Flash photographing system

ABSTRACT

A flash photographing system includes a camera body, a flash controller connected to the camera body and three flash devices: the first flash device is directly mounted on the camera body; the second flash device is mounted on the flash controller; and the third flash device is connected through a suitable cord to the flash controller. A microcomputer is provided in the camera body and also in each of the flash devices so as to control the three flash devices in various different modes of operations, such as simultaneous flash mode, sequence flash mode, and yet providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No.016,004, filed Feb. 18, 1987, which is a divisional application ofapplication Ser. No. 819,015, filed Jan. 15, 1986, and now abandoned,which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 614,031, filedMay 25, 1984 and is now U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,786.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an improvement in a flashphotographing system, and in individual devices operative in the system,such as an electronic flash device and a camera. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to an improvement in the transmission of dataand information among various devices in the system and also to animprovement in the control of a plurality of flash light emissionsenabled by the system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the field to which the present invention pertains, it is well knownto transmit various data and information among devices in a flashphotographing system by way of a plurality of terminals. On the otherhand, it is also well known that, by means of adopting a doubleflash-head type or a plurality of electronic flash devices within thesystem, a plurality of flash light emissions are carried out during oneexposure. In such a system, the number and type of the data andinformation to be transmitted among the devices in the system are somany that it has long been desired to rationalize them efficiently. Ithas also long been desired to accurately and properly control thecooperative relationship between these devices in the system and also toavoid any possibility that the operation of the system as a whole wouldbecome unreasonable. In addition, in order to accomplish these, it hasbeen desired to improve the individual devices, such as the electronicflash device and the photographic camera, which are operative in theflash exposure system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for its essential object to provide a flashphotographing exposure system effective to permit the various data andinformation t be transmitted efficiently among the various devices inthe system with the use of a minimized number of terminals to permit thedevices to be cooperative organically with each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronicflash device functioning within the system referred to above, whereinwith the use of a minimized number of terminals, transmission of thedata and information between the electronic flash device and anotherdevice in the system can be carried out efficiently.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronicflash device of the type referred to above, wherein an improvement hasbeen made to avoid the occurrence of any confusion or interference amongthe data and information on the communication with another device in thesystem.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic flash device of the type referred to above, which is sostructured as to avoid any possible contradictory operations to those ofthe other devices in the system.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic flash device of the type referred to above wherein when aplurality of such flash devices are employed in the system, no confusionarises in the system as a whole even if these flash devices are incontradictory conditions with each other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved electronic flash device of a type employing two flash lightemitters.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedelectronic flash device of the type referred to above, wherein the flashdevice operates satisfactorily even if the expected information fails toreach from another device in the system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedelectronic flash device, wherein the proper data and information can betransmitted in the system in accordance with the number of flash devicesemployed, whether it be one or more than one.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acontrolling device in the system which is, in the case where a pluralityof electronic flash devices are employed, capable of collectinginformation fed from these electronic flash devices, determining thesecollected information and, based on the result of the determination,commanding the timing at which the electronic flash devices are to befired and also delivering the result of the determination to thephotographic camera.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved electronic flash device of the type capable of firing at adesired firing timing in accordance with the command fed from thecontrolling device of the type referred to above.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide aphotographic camera capable of variably setting a flash synchronizedexposure time in automatic response to the information fed from thecontrolling device of the type referred to above.

A still further object of the present invention is to improve aphotographic camera of a type which is capable of controlling the ratioof amount of flash light emitted from the individual flash lightemitters in the case where a plurality of flash light emissions arecarried out in the system.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic flash device capable of, for the sake of the photographiccamera of the type referred to above, supplying proper light measurementcontrolling signals in synchronized with the flash firing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic flash device capable of, when a plurality of flash lightemissions take place sequentially, generating information to bedisplayed appropriate for the sequential flash light emissions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acontrolling device capable of controlling the timing at which threeelectronic flash devices are to be fired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in conjunction withpreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like referencenumerals, and in which:

FIG. 1a is a diagrammatic view of a flash photographing system accordingto the present invention;

FIGS. 1b-1 and 1b-2 taken together as shown in FIG. 1b show circuitdiagram of the system shown in FIG. 1a;

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c taken together as shown in FIG. 2 show a flow chartof operation carried out by microcomputer MC1 shown in FIG. 1b-1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a detailed steps for step #38 of flashcondition display shown in FIG. 2b;

FIGS. 4a and 4b taken together as shown in FIG. 4 show a detailed flowchart of step #41 of ambient light calculation I shown in FIG. 2a;

FIGS. 5a and 5b taken together as shown in FIG. 5 show a detailed flowchart of step #42 of flash-light calculation I shown in FIG. 2a;

FIG. 6 show a detailed flow chart of step #43 of ambient lightcalculation II and step #44 of flash™light calculation II shown in FIG.2a;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the detail of input output controlIOC shown in FIG. 1b-1;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the detail of light amount controlcircuit FST shown in FIG. 1b-1;

FIGS. 9a and 9b taken together as shown in FIG. 9 show the detail ofcontrol circuit FLC1 shown in FIG. 1b-2;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing the detail of mode determiningcircuit TIC shown in FIG. 9a;

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the detail of emission amountcontrol circuit FTC1 shown in FIG. 9b;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the detail of light adjustmentsuccess indication circuit INF shown in FIG. 9b.

FIGS. 13a, 13b and 13c taken together as shown in FIG. 13 show a flowchart of operation carried out by microcomputer MC2 shown in FIG. 9b;

FIG. 14 shows a flow chart carried out upon supply of power tomicrocomputer MC2 shown in FIG. 9b;

FIGS. 15a and 15b show parts of control circuit FLC2 or FLC3 shown inFIG. 1b-2, and particularly showing parts which are different fromcircuit FLC1 shown in FIG. 9b as enclosed by dotted lines XVa and XVb,respectively;

FIG. 16 shows a part of emission amount control circuit FTC2 which isdifferent from circuit FTC1 shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 shows a part of flow chart of microcomputer MC3, shown in FIG.15b, and particularly showing a portion which is different from thatshown in FIGS. 13a-13c;

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing the detail of flash control circuitCNC shown in FIG. 1b-1; and

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing a part of emission amount controlcircuit FTC1, which is different from that shown in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1a a flash photographing system according to thepresent is diagrammatically shown. The system as shown comprises asingle-reflex camera body V having a shoe connector CN9 and bottomconnector CN3, a flash controller IV having connectors CN4, CN5 and CN7,and three electronic flash devices I, II and III. Electronic flashdevice I is a double flash-head type having a connector CN6, electronicflash device II is a single flash-head type having a connector CN10, andIII is the same electronic flash device as II with a connector CN8.Although not illustrated in FIG. 1a, the system further comprises aninterchangeable lens VI (FIG. 1b-1) mounted on the camera body V. Theseelements, i.e., camera body V, interchangeable lens VI, flash controllerIV and three flash devices I, II and III, are mutually connected witheach other through a single network defining the flash photographingsystem of the present invention.

According to the example shown in FIG. 1a, electronic flash device I isconnected to flash controller IV through connectors CN6 and CN5,electronic flash device II is connected to camera body V throughconnectors CN9 and CN10, and electronic flash device III is connected toflash controller IV through connectors CN8 and CN7.

Instead of the connection shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, camera body V andflash controller IV can be connected with flash devices in other mannersuch as described below.

(1) Exchange flash devices I and II with each other.

(2) Remove flash device III and use only two flash devices I and II.

(3) Use only one flash device I or II by connecting it to shoe connectorCN9.

(4) Use only one flash device I or II by connecting it to connector CN5of flash controller IV.

(5) Use only one flash device I or II by connecting it to shoe connectorCN9, and connecting flash controller IV to bottom connector CN3 but noflash device is connected to flash controller IV.

(6) Use no flash device, but merely a flash controller IV is connectedto camera body V.

In the case of (6) where only the flash controller IV is connected andno flash device is connected, no flash photographing is carried out, butnormal photographing under ambient light is carried out. In addition tothe above, other type of electronic flash device, such as a type whichis not dedicated to any particular system or is designed for a differentflash photographing system, can be mounted on shoe connector CN9 orconnector CN5. In such a case, the flash device may emit flash light inresponse to a start signal, but operates independly of the flashphotographing system of the present invention. Furthermore, when a flashdevice is connected to connector CN7, no matter what type it is, itoperates within the control of the present system, because the flashdevice connected to the connector CN7 is controlled only from the viewpoint of timed relationship with other operations, and not from the viewpoint of amount of light emitted therefrom.

Although there are various different connections are available, thedescription given below is directed to the connection shown FIG. 1a,unless it is stated otherwise.

Referring to FIGS. 1b-1 and 1b-2 taken together as shown in FIG. 1b, ablock diagram of a circuit of flash photographing system shown in FIG.1a is shown. In the throughout drawings, a heavy line represents abundle of signal lines and a hairline represents a single signal line.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1b-1, camera body V has connectors CN1,CN3 and CN9. Connectors CN3 and CN9, each having four terminals, areboth connected to the same lines L1, L2 and L3 and grounded line. Asshown in FIG. 1a, connector CN9 is preferably provided at a hot shoe HSfor the direct connection with a flash device, such as I as illustratedin the drawings as an example, and connector CN3 is provided at thebottom of the camera body for the connection with flash controller IV.Connector CN1 is provided, for example, on a body mount ring (not shown)for mounting the interchangeable lens. Thus, when an interchangeablelens is properly mounted, connector CN1 having five terminals isconnected with a connector CN2 provided in the interchangeable lens.Thus, various data are sent from a lens circuit LEC to camera body V.

Flash controller IV has a connector CN4 for the electric connection withcamera body V through bottom connector CN3. Flash controller IV furtherhas a four-terminal connector CN5 and two-terminal connector CN7, bothare connectable to a flash device. When a flash device, such as I, isconnected to connector CN5, signal exchange and data exchange areeffected between the flash device and the flash controller IV to controlthe firing timing and amount of flash light emitted from the flashdevice I. On the other hand, when a flash device, such as III, isconnected to connector CN7, only a start emission signal is applied at acontrolled timing from flash controller IV to the flash device III toeffect the emission of flash light with a constant amount of light or anamount controlled by a system other than the system of the presentinvention.

Next, the description is particularly directed to the circuit of camerabody V.

Referring to FIG. 1b-1, a main switch MS1 is connected to a battery BA1.Provided operatively to a shutter release button (not shown) are lightmeasuring switch S1 and release switch S2 such that light measuringswitch S1 turns on by a first half depression of the shutter releasebutton and release switch S2 turns on by a further depression of thebutton. When light measuring switch S1 closes, LOW is applied tomicrocomputer MC1 at each of interruption terminal iT and input terminali1, and when release switch S2 closes, LOW is applied to microcomputerMC1 at input terminal i2. A reset switch S4 is provided which opens whenan exposure control operation completes, and closes when an exposurecontrol mechanism (not shown) including a shutter mechanism and anaperture mechanism is charged. Like other switches, reset switch S4produces HIGH or LOW which is applied to microcomputer MC1 to inputterminal i3.

A data generator DO is provided for generating set data, such asexposure control mode, film sensitivity, shutter speed, F-stop number,and the like. The generated data is applied to input IP1 ofmicrocomputer MC1. Instead of manual setting, the film sensitivity datacan be set automatically by reading the film sensitivity informationprovided on the film cartridge (not shown).

A light measuring circuit LM has two outputs: one is connected to inputANI of microcomputer MC1 for providing measured light intensity in ananalog form to microcomputer MC1; and other is connected to input VRIfor providing the microcomputer MC1 with a reference voltage by means ofa reference voltage generator (not shown) in light measuring circuit LMfor the purpose of giving a reference voltage required by ananalog-to-digital (A-D) conversion to be effected in microcomputer MC1.

An auto-focus control circuit AF is provided which detects the focusingcondition of picture taking lens and shifts it, when it is out-of-focus,to an infocus position. More specifically, auto-focus control circuit AFoperates in response to the command signal from microcomputer MC1through data bus DB, and detects amount and direction of defocus of animage formed by the picture taking lens on a predetermined image formingplane. Then, by the data representing the amount of defocus and the datarepresenting the type of interchangeable lens from lens circuit LEC, anamount of shift of picture taking lens (actually, an amount of shift offocusing lens of all the lenses provided in the picture taking lens) iscalculated. Then, the lens is shifted in accordance with the calculatedamount, and the focusing condition is displayed.

A release circuit RL is provided for starting the operation of theexposure control mechanism (not shown). It operates in response to HIGHproduced from output O2 of microcomputer MC1.

A display circuit DP is provided for displaying various control factors,such as exposure control value (e.g., shutter speed and F stop number tobe effected), exposure control mode, film sensitivity, condition offlash device, etc. The display is effected in accordance with the datafrom output OP2 of microcomputer MC1.

An exposure control circuit ECC controls shutter and aperture mechanismsin accordance with shutter speed data and F-stop down data from outputOP2 of microcomputer MC2.

A transistor BT1 is provided for controlling a power supply. Whenmicrocomputer produces HIGH from its output O1 and LOW from inverterIN1, transistor BT1 conducts, thereby providing voltage +V to circuitsother than microcomputer MC1 and also to lens circuit LEC.

A sync switch, or X contact, Sx is provided which closes to produce LOWwhen a leading curtain (not shown) of shutter mechanism completes itsscan, indicating that the shutter is opened. The LOW from sync switch Sxis applied through line L1 to flash device II, flash controller IV, andfurther to flash device I.

A light amount control circuit FST is provided which controls the amountof flash light to be emitted from each connected flash device A detailof light amount control circuit FST will be described later inconnection with FIG. 8.

An input/output control IOC is provided for controlling signaltransmission between camera body V and each of interchangeable lens VI,flash device II and flash controller IV. A detail of input/outputcontrol IOC will be described later in connection with FIG. 7.

Microcomputer MC1 has a number of input and output terminals which aredescribed below.

An output CKO is provided for producing a train clock pulses φ1 which isapplied to each of auto-focus control circuit AF, data generator DO,exposure control circuit ECC, display circuit DP and release circuit RL.

An output ANO produces a D-A converted film sensitivity signal for thecontrol of amount of light to be emitted from each flash device.

Terminals SCK, SOU and SIN are for serial sending of data. For example,when a data is to be sent from microcomputer MC1 to input/output controlIOC, serial-output terminal SOU produces binary form data bit-by-bitserially in a synchronized relationship with a positive edge of each ofeight clock pulses from output SCK. Contrary, when a data is to be sentfrom input/output control IOC to microcomputer MC1, serial-inputterminal SIN receives binary form data bit-by-bit serially in asynchronized relationship with a negative edge of each of eight clockpulses from output SCK.

An output O3 produces HIGH when a data is to be sent between camera bodyV and mounted lens VI. An output 04 produces HIGH when a data is to besent to a connected flash device and/or flash controller IV. An outputO5 is provided for producing a signal representing the operatingcondition of connected flash device and/or flash controller IV. Moreparticularly, when a data is to be sent to camera body V from theconnected flash device and/or flash controller IV, output O5 producesHIGH for a first predetermined period of time (such as 90 microseconds).When a data is to be sent from camera body V to the connected flashdevice and/or flash controller IV, output O5 produces HIGH for a secondpredetermined period of time (such as 150 microseconds). And, when anexposure control operation is to be effected by camera body V, output O5produces HIGH for a third predetermined period of time (such as 210microseconds). An output O6 produces HIGH when a data is to be sent fromcamera body to flash device and/or flash controller.

The interchangeable lens VI mounted on the camera body V has a lenscircuit LEC which receives power +V from camera body V. Whenmicrocomputer MC1 in camera body V produces HIGH from output O3, lineLN1 carries HIGH, thereby activating the lens circuit LEC. Then, inresponse to clock pulses applied through line LN2, the fixed data storedin lens circuit LEC is serially sent bit-by-bit through line LN3 tocamera body V. The fixed data can be minimum F-stop data (fully openedaperture data), maximum F-stop data, focal length data, photographingdistance data, various data for the auto-focus adjustment check data(for checking whether or not an interchangeable lens appropriate for thesystem of the present invention is properly mounted on camera body V),and any other necessary data.

Line L1 is provided for sending LOW when sync switch Sx closes.

Line L2 is provided for a bidirectional data bus for sending serial datafrom camera body to each of connected flash devices and/or flashcontroller, or vice versa. When flash light is being emitted from theconnected flash devices, a light measurement control signal istransmitted through line L2 from each flash device to camera body. Thislight measurement control signal is defined by a combination of LOW,HIGH and LOW such that the first LOW starts from the beginning of thelight emission from a first flash device and lasts for a firstpredetermined period of time (which is longer than a time necessary forthe full emission of flash light, such as 2.5 milliseconds). Then comesHIGH which lasts for a second predetermined period of time (such as 1millisecond), and after that, the second LOW lasts for a thirdpredetermined period of time necessary for the emission of two flashlights at their full light amount and effected one after another (suchas 5.5 milliseconds). The light measurement control signal will bedescribed in detail later. On the contrary, when flash light is notbeing emitted, or when no data transmission is effected, line L2 carriesHIGH or LOW indicating that the flash devices are in charged conditionor in uncharged condition, respectively.

Line L3 is provided for sending clock pulses produced from output SCK ofmicrocomputer MC1 to each flash device and flash controller when datatransmission is to be effected therebetween so as to synchronize thedata sending and receiving operation. Line L3 is also used for sending asignal from output O5 representing the operating condition of the camerabody, and for sending an emission stop signal from light amount controlcircuit produced during the emission of flash light from the flashdevice.

Next, the description is directed to the circuit of flash device I.

Referring to FIG. 1b-2, flash device I of a double flash-head typecomprises battery BA3 and main switch MS3. Control circuit FLC1 isprovided for controlling light emission, data transmission, andcalculation for display, and its detail will be described later inconnection with FIGS. 9a, 9b, 10, 11, 12, 13a, 13b, 13c, and 14. DisplayFDP1 is provided for displaying various information, such as flash mode(which can be divided into a double-action twin flash mode wherein twoflash lights are emitted sequentially from two flash heads in one flashdevice; former or latter in a sequence flash mode wherein two flashlights are emitted sequentially from two flash devices; a simultaneousflash mode wherein two flash lights are emitted simultaneously from twoflash devices; and a single flash mode wherein a flash light is emittedfrom one flash device), bounce mode, aperture size value based on thedata transmitted from camera body, film sensitivity, focal length, andan information relating to the illumination angle covered by the flashlight where the flash device is of a type which can change the width ofillumination angle. Furthermore, in the case where the flash device isset to an automatic light amount control mode, display FDP1 displays anavailable range of distance (available range of photographing distancein which the light amount to be emitted can be controlled relatively tothe photographing distance). When the flash device is set to a manualmode wherein the light amount to be emitted is manually set, aphotographing distance which provides an appropriate exposure isdisplayed.

Flash device I further includes a supply control circuit CHC1 whichreceives signals from charge detectors CHD1 and CHD2 and provides asignal to transistor BT2 for controlling high voltage generator DD1.When transistor BT2 conducts, high voltage generator DD1 is so actuatedas to step up the voltage from battery BA3 to a predetermined highvoltage, such as 300 volts. The produced high voltage is applied througheach diodes D1 and D2 to capacitors C1 and C2, respectively, therebycharging the capacitors C1 and C2. When capacitors C1 and C2 are chargedabove respective predetermined levels charge detectors CHD1 and CHD2produce HIGH, respectively. Such a HIGH is referred to as a chargecompletion signal. When a charge completion signal is produced from bothcharge detectors CHD1 and CHD2, supply control circuit CHC1 producesLOW, thereby turning the transistor BT2 off to cut off the furthersupply of high voltage from high voltage generator DD1. When, however, acharge completion signal is not produced from at least one of chargedetectors CHD1 and CHD2, supply control circuit CHC1 continues toproduce HIGH, thereby turning the transistor BT2 on to continue thesupply of high voltage from high voltage generator DD1.

Flash device I still further includes two light emitters FLO1 and FLO2for emitting two flash lights. Light emitter FLO2 is connected tocontrol circuit FLC1 through lines SP2 and ST2 and is provided in apivotal fashion so as to change the light emitting direction betweenstraight for the direct lighting and tilted (usually upwards) for thebounce lighting. Light emitter FLO1 is connected to control circuit FLC1through lines SP1 and ST1 and is provided in a fixed flash-head forshooting only the straight flash light.

When only flash device I is connected to camera body V directly at thehot shoe or through flash controller IV, and when light emitter FLO2 isfacing straight (hereinafter referred to as a straight flashingfashion), the flash light emits only from light emitter FLO2 and notfrom light emitter FLO1. On the contrary, when only flash device I isconnected to camera body and when light emitter FLO2 is facing otherthan straight (hereinafter referred to as a bounce flashing fashion),the flash light emits first from light emitter FLO2 for an amount whichis equal to about 2/3 of the necessary amount for the proper exposure,and then, flash light emits from light emitter FLO1 for the remaining1/3 of the necessary amount. This flash mode is called double-actionflash mode.

When flash device I is connected to camera body V not solely buttogether with other flash device II and/or III, as shown in FIGS. 1b-1and 1b-2 taken together, flash device I operates in a different mannersuch that flash light emits only from light emitter FLO2 no matterwhether light emitter FLO2 is in the straight flashing fashion or in thebounce flashing fashion.

It is to be noted that light emitters FLO1 and FLO2 start emission oflight in response to HIGH (start emission signal) applied theretothrough lines ST1 and ST2, respectively. Also, since the capacity ofcapacitor C1 is much smaller than that of capacitor C2, the maximumavailable light that can be emitted from light emitter FLO1 is muchsmaller than that from light emitter FLO2. For example, the guide numberof light emitter FLO2 itself is 40, whereas that of light emitter FLO1itself is 8. Furthermore, light emitter FLO2 is pivotally supported topermit the change of light emitting direction, whereas light emitterFLO1 is fixedly supported to emit only the straight flash light. Bothlight emitters FLO1 and FLO2 can change the amount of light to beemitted such that light emitters FLO1 and FLO2 stop emission of light inresponse to HIGH (stop emission signal) from lines SP1 and SP2,respectively.

Next, the description is directed to flash device II. The flash deviceII includes battery BA5 which is connected to main switch MS5. A controlcircuit FLC3, having the same function as the control circuit FLC1 inflash device I, is provided for sending display data to display FDP3 andsending start emission signal through line ST4 and stop emission signalthrough line SP4 to light emitter FLO4. The detail of the controlcircuit FLC3 will be described later in connection with FIGS. 15a, 15b,16 and 17.

Flash device II further includes a supply control circuit CHC3 whichreceives a signal from charge detector CHD4 and provides a signal totransistor BT4 for controlling high voltage generator DD3 in a mannersimilar to high voltage generator DD1 described above. It is to be notedthat light emitter FLO4 is supported pivotally to permit the change oflight emitting direction, thereby permitting both the straight flashingfashion and bounce flashing fashion. Flash device III has the samestructure as flash device II.

Next, the description is directed to flash controller IV shown in FIG.1b-1. Flash controller IV includes battery BA2 which is connected tomain switch MS2. Flash control circuit CNC is provided which receivesdata from flash devices I and/or II in a synchronized relationship withclock pulses from camera body V to detect the conditions of the flashdevices, such as mounted condition and various operating conditions,thereby determining a flash mode. When two flash devices, such as I andII, are connected to connectors CN5 and CN9, respectively, flash controlcircuit CNC simultaneously receives signals from flash devices I and II,and also simultaneously sends signals to them.

It is to be noted that the term "the flash device" herein used means notonly one flash device connected to either one of the connectors CN5 andCN9, but also represents two flash devices connected to both connectorsCN5 and CN9, unless it is stated otherwise.

A signal representing the determined flash mode is sent to the flashdevice in a synchronized relationship with clock pulses from camera bodyV. Then, by the clock pulses from camera body V, signals representingthe flash mode and condition of flash device are sent to camera body V.Based on the result of determination of flash mode, it is furtherdetermined whether or not to emit light from flash device III. When itis determined to emit light from flash device III (i.e., the determinedflash mode is sequence flash mode), a start emission signal is appliedthrough line L21 to flash device III after two flash devices I and 11complete the emission of flash light. The detail of flash controlcircuit CNC is described later in connection with FIG. 18.

Next, the various flash modes are described.

The single flash mode is established when only flash device I isconnected to camera body V directly on the shoe connector CN9 or throughflash controller IV at connector CN5, and when light emitter FLO2 isfacing straight, as in the straight flashing fashion. In this case, asingle shot of flash light is emitted from light emitter FLO2, and nolight is emitted from light emitter FLO1. The available range ofphotographing distance under the single flash mode is determined inaccordance with the maximum light amount that can be emitted from lightemitter FLO2 solely, and the determined available range is displayed.

The double-action twin flash mode is established when only flash deviceI is connected to camera body V directly on the shoe connector CN9 orthrough flash controller IV at connector CN5, and when light emitterFLO2 is set in the bounce flashing fashion facing other than straight.In the double-action twin flash mode, light emitter FLO2 emits 2/3 ofthe total necessary light for the proper exposure and, immediatelythereafter, light emitter FLO1 emits remaining 1/3 of the necessarylight for the proper exposure. The available range of photographingdistance under the double-action twin flash mode is determined anddisplayed in accordance with the maximum light amount that can beemitted from light emitter FLO1.

Another single flash mode is established when only flash device II isconnected to camera body V directly on shoe connector CN9 or throughflash controller IV at connector CN5 with light emitter FLO4 set eitherin the straight or bounce flashing fashion. When light emitter FLO4 isset in the straight flashing fashion under this single flash mode, theavailable range of photographing distance is determined and displayed inaccordance with the maximum light amount that can be emitted from lightemitter FLO4. But, when light emitter FLO4 is set in the bounce flashingfashion, no available range is determined nor displayed.

The simultaneous flash mode is established when two flash devices areconnected to shoe connector CN9 and connector CN5, respectively, with atleast one of the two flash devices being of a dedicated type such asflash device I or II, and when flash controller IV is selecting thesimultaneous mode (This selection can be done manually through asuitable two-position switch (not shown) provided in the flashcontroller IV movable between "simultaneous" and "sequence".). Here, itis assumed that flash device I is connected to connector CN5 of flashcontroller IV and flash device II is connected to shoe connector CN9 ofcamera body V. Under the simultaneous flash mode, flash device Ioperates such that only light emitter FLO2 emits light and no light isemitted from light emitter FLO1, no matter whether the light emitterFLO2 is set in the straight or bounce flashing fashion. Thus, under thesimultaneous flash mode, two flash devices I and II start the emissionof flash light simultaneously and stop flashing when the sum of emittedlights from both devices I and II reaches a desired amount for theproper exposure. The available range of photographing distance under thesimultaneous flash mode is determined and displayed in accordance withthe maximum light amount that can be emitted from each flash device,only when light emitter FLO2 is set in the straight flashing fashion.When light emitter FLO2 is set in the bounce flashing fashion, nodetermination nor display is effected for the available range ofphotographing distance.

The sequence flash mode with two flash devices is established when twoflash devices are connected to shoe connector CN9 and connector CN5,respectively, with each one of the two flash devices being of adedicated type such as flash device I or II, and when flash controllerIV is selecting the sequence mode, e.g., by the two-position switchprovided in the flash controller IV. Here, it is assumed that flashdevice I is connected to connector CN5 of flash controller IV and flashdevice II is connected to shoe connector CN9 of camera body V. Under thesequence flash mode, flash device I operates such that only lightemitter FLO2 emits light and no light is emitted from light emitterFLO1, no matter whether the light emitter FLO2 is set in the straight orbounce flashing fashion. Thus, under the sequence flash mode, first,flash device I emits 2/3 of the total necessary light for the properexposure and, immediately thereafter, flash device II emits remaining1/3 of the necessary light for the proper exposure. The available rangeof photographing distance under the sequence flash mode is determinedand displayed in accordance with the maximum light amount that can beemitted from flash device II.

The sequence flash mode with three flash devices is established when thethird flash device, such as III as indicated in the drawings, isconnected to connector CN7, and when flash controller IV is selectingthe sequence mode, e.g., by the two-position switch provided in theflash controller IV. Under the sequence flash mode with three flashdevices, the operation is similar to that with two flash devices, but isdifferent such that, after the two flash devices I and II emit lights inthat order, the third flash device III emits light in response to astart emission signal transmitted through line L21 to the third flashdevice III. Since the third flash device III is connected to flashcontroller IV with only two lines, e.g., line L21 for the start emissionsignal and line L4 connected to ground, no stop emission signal producedby light amount control circuit FST in camera body V is applied to flashdevice III. Thus, the flash photographing system of the presentinvention controls not an amount of flash light from the third flashdevice but the timing when to start the light emission. Thus, the thirdflash device emits light with the full amount when it is anon-controllable type, or it may emit light less than the full amountwhen it is a self-controllable type manually or automatically. From thisview point, the third flash device connected to connector CN7 can notonly be a dedicated type such as flash device I or II, but also be anyother known type. From the practical usage, the third flash deviceconnected to connector CN7 is for lighting the background of a mainsubject to be photographed. For example, when a person standing in frontof a wall is to be taken, the third flash device is placed away from thecamera using an extension so as to light only the back wall, therebyeliminating undesirable shades produced by the other flash lights fromflash devices I and II. In other words, since the main subject, in thiscase the person standing in front of the wall, is properly lighted by anaid of flash lights from flash devices I and II, it is not preferable tofurther light the main subject with the third flash light. Thus, thethird flash device is particularly used for lighting the surrounding orbackground of the main subject for the effect of natural lighting.

Next, the operations of camera body V and the flash photographing systemof FIG. 1a are described in connection with FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 4a, 4b,5a, 5b, 6, 7 and 8.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c taken together as shown inFIG. 2, a flow chart of operation carried out by microcomputer MC1 shownin FIG. 1b-1. When main switch MS1 of camera body V turns on, power isapplied to microcomputer MC1, thereby starting an operation when poweris supplied. At step #1, outputs O1-O6 produce LOW, and at step #2, datafor cancelling any display given through display circuit DP is produced.Then, at step #3, any transmission of data through data bus DB toautofocus control circuit AF is cut off thereby disabling the autofocuscontrol circuit AF from being operated. At step #4, microcomputer MC1 isset in a condition ready to receive an interruption signal to itsinterruption terminal iT, and it stops its operation.

When light measuring switch S1 closes, LOW is applied to interruptionterminal iT, thereby again starting the operation of microcomputer MC1.At step #10, output O1 produces HIGH, thereby producing LOW frominverter IN1. Thus, transistor BT1 conducts to supply electric power tocircuits other than microcomputer MC1 and also to lens circuit LEC. Atstep #11, output O3 produces HIGH, thereby starting the data readingfrom lens circuit LEC in a manner described below. First, register (BR)(A reference character(s) given in parentheses represents an element,such as a register or a flag established within the microcomputerthrough programming.) in microcomputer MC1 is set to "0", and at step#13, operations based on the serial-in/out instruction is carried out.Accordingly, the data from lens circuit LEC are read in serial in/outregister (IOR) in microcomputer MC1. The contents of serial in/outregister (IOR) are loaded into a certain register for the first time,thereafter adding "1" to the content of the register (BR). At the step#16, whether or not the contents of register (BR) reach "N" is judged,and if not, the procedure will return to step #13 to repeat the abovementioned functions. After repeating steps #13 to #16 for apredetermined number of times N, the contents of register (BR) reaching"N" is judged at step #16 and the procedure goes to step #17.

Next, the description is directed to data reading from the lens circuitLEC with reference to FIGS. 1b-1, 1b-2 and 7. FIG. 7 particularly showsthe detail of input/output control circuit IOC shown in FIG. 1b-1. Whenoutput O3 of microcomputer MC1 produces HIGH, AND gates AN1 and AN3 areenabled. The HIGH from output O3 of microcomputer MC1 is also appliedthrough line LN1 to lens circuit LEC, thereby activating the lenscircuit LEC. Then, eight clock pulses are serially produced from outputSCK of microcomputer MC1, which are applied through AND gate AN3 andline LN2 to lens circuit LEC. In a synchronized relationship with thepositive edges of eight clock pulses, lens circuit LEC serially sendsthe first data through line LN3. The first data is applied through ANDgate AN1 and OR gate OR1 to input SIN of microcomputer MC1. In themicrocomputer MC1, the first data are read serially in register (IOR) ina synchronized relationship with the negative edges of the same eightclock pulses.

Lens circuit LEC includes ROM (read-only memory) for storing a pluralityof fixed data in a predetermined alignment, address designating meansfor sequentially designating address of ROM, and data producing meansfor serially producing the read data. Each time the train of eight clockpulses is applied through line LN2, address data are renewed, therebyproducing different types of data serially in a predetermined number.Then, microcomputer MC1 stores the data in the sent order at certainregisters. Thus, one register carries one data. For example, oneregister in microcomputer MC1 carries minimum F-stop data (fully openedaperture data) and another carries maximum F-stop data, and so on. Inthis manner, a certain register in microcomputer MC1 always carries thesame kind of data sent from the mounted interchangeable lens. When thedata to be sent is a photographing distance data (this data is inrelation to the amount of movement of focusing lens), a coded plate (notshown) for producing data corresponding to the photographing distance isprovided operatively in association with the distance ring of the lens.By the use of data produced from the coded plate in combination with thenumber of clock pulses counted, address can be designated. A similararrangement can be applied in the case where the mounted lens is a zoomlens.

Returning back to FIG. 2a, at step #17, output O3 produces LOW, therebystopping the data reading from lens circuit LEC. Then, at step #18, itis determined whether flag (JF1) is carrying "1" or not. Flag (JF1)carries "1" when the calculations for the exposure control arecompleted, but carries "0" if not. When it is determined that flag (JF1)is carrying "0" indicating that the exposure control calculations arenot completed, the program advances to step #25. On the contrary, whenit is determined that flag (JF1) is carrying "1", it is furtherdetermined at step #19 whether or not input i2 is receiving LOW as aresult of closure of release switch S2. When input i2 is not receivingLOW, the program goes to step #25. But, if input i2 is receiving LOWindicating that release switch S2 is turned on, the program advances tostep #20. At step #20, it is still further determined whether or notinput i3 is receiving LOW as a result of closure of reset switch S4. Ifreset switch S4 is still off, because that the exposure controlmechanism has not completed its charge, input i3 receives HIGH. In thiscase, the program goes to step #25. On the contrary, when the exposurecontrol mechanism is charged to turn switch S4 on, input i3 receivesLOW. In this case the program follows the procedure from step #80 (FIG.2c) to carry out the exposure control operation.

At step #25, it is determined whether or not the check data is includedwithin all the data read in from the lens. The check data, such as"10101010" which is common to every type of interchangeable lens, isstored in ROM at a certain address in every type of interchangeablelens. When it is determined that no check data is transmitted,microcomputer MC1 determines that no lens is mounted or that the lens isnot properly mounted. On the contrary, when it is determined that thecheck data is transmitted, microcomputer MC1 determines that the lens isproperly mounted. When the check data is present indicating that thelens is properly mounted, the program goes to step #26 at which the readin data related to autofocusing adjustment are transmitted through databus DB to autofocus control circuit AF. Thus, autofocus operation iscarried out by circuit AF and, thereafter, the program goes to step #27.On the contrary, when there is no check data indicating that no lens isproperly mounted, no autofocus operation is carried out. Thus, in thiscase, the program jumps from step #25 to # 27.

At step #27, output O4 produces HIGH, thereby enabling data exchangewith the flash device and/or with flash controller IV. Then, at step#28, output O5 produces HIGH for a predetermined period T1, such as 90microseconds This HIGH is applied through lines L3 and L13 to the flashdevice and/or flash controller. After this period T1, the flash deviceand/or flash controller determines that it is a mode to transmit datafrom flash device and/or flash controller to camera body V. Such a modeis hereinafter referred to as FC mode. The data transmission is carriedout in the following manner.

At step #29, based on the serial-in/out instruction, eight clock pulsesare serially transmitted through lines L3 and L13 from camera body V tothe flash device. In a synchronized relationship with the positive edgesof eight clock pulses, the flash device serially sends six bits of datathrough line L2 and L12. The six bits of data are read in serially inthe flash controller in a synchronized relationship with the negativeedges of the first six of the same eight clock pulses. Then, the flashcontroller determines the flash mode based on the read in data and thedata set in the flash controller by the two-position switch movablebetween "simultaneous" and "sequence". Then, in a synchronizedrelationship with the positive edges of the remaining two of the sameeight clock pulses, two bits of data indicating the result of thisdetermination are sent out through lines L2 and L12. During step #29,microcomputer MC1 reads the six bits data and two bits data on line L2in a synchronized relationship with the negative edges of the eightclock pulses in serial in/out register (IOR). However, the microcomputerMC1 will not utilize this data.

Then, at step #30, eight clock pulses are again serially transmittedthrough lines L3 and L13 in accordance with the serial in/outinstruction. Depending on the number of flash devices connected todepending, when one flash device is connected, where it is connected,the operation in step #30 is different.

In the case where two flash devices are connected, one through flashcontroller IV at connector CN5 and the other at shoe connector CN9, nodata is transmitted from the flash devices through lines L2 and L12.This is done by holding both flash devices in an open condition. Theopen condition is established when transistors BT35 and BT37 (FIG. 9a)in control circuit FLC1 are maintained off. While the two flash devicesare held in the open condition, the flash controller produces, in asynchronized relationship with the positive edges of the clock pulses,through line L2 to camera body V a data which is determined by thesetting of the two-position switch in combination with the data appliedpreviously at step #29 to the flash controller from the two flashdevices. Since the two flash devices are in the open condition at step#30, no interference takes place with the data sent from the flashcontroller on lines L2.

In the case where one flash device is connected through flash controllerIV at connector CN5, the flash controller produces at step #30 the dataobtained from the flash device through lines L2. At this moment, flashdevice produces data through line L12 in a manner similar to thatcarried out in step #29, but this time at step #30, the data is cut offby the flash controller,

In the case where one flash device is connected to show connector CN9,the operation in step #29 is repeated again in step #30. Morespecifically, at step #29, the data is produced from the flash devicethrough line L2 in a synchronized relationship with clock pulses, and atstep #30, the same data is produced again from the flash device throughline L2 in a synchronized relationship with clock pulses.

It is to be noted that in the case where the flash controller isconnected to the camera body but no flash device is connected toconnector CN5, line L2 is maintained in the open condition not toprevent signal transmission from taking place between camera body andflash device II directly connected thereto through connector CN9. Inthis case the open condition is established when transistors BT55 andBT57 (FIG. 18) in flash control circuit CNC are maintained off.

Next, the description is directed to various data transferred in asynchronized relationship with the sixteen clock pulses during steps #29and #30. The sixteen clock pulses are designated as bits b0, b1, b2, . .. and b15. A particular data is produced correspondingly to each bit.Table 1 given below shows the data with its name correspondingly tosixteen bits b0-b15, and it also shows operation condition of the flashdevice, flash controller and camera.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                             Name of                     Signal                                       Bit  the Data   Data             Transmission                                 ______________________________________                                        b0   Power On S.                                                                              H - power switch on                                                                            Flash                                        b1   Twin S.    L - bounce flash fashion                                                                       Device →                              b2   Ready S.   H - charge completed                                                                           Flash Cont.                                  b3   FDC S.     L - cease flash S.                                                                             Camera pro-                                  b4   Preserved  L                vides clock                                  b5   ID S.      L - dedicated flash device                                                                     pulses.                                      b6   Flash Mode HH . . . Simultaneous                                                                          Flash Cont. →                         b7   S.         HL . . . Former in Seq.                                                                        Flash Device                                                 LH . . . Later in Seq.                                                                         Camera pro-                                                  LL . . . Single Flash                                                                          vides clock                                                                   pulses.                                      b8   Power On S.                                                                              H - power switch on                                                                            Flash                                        b9   ID S.      L - dedicated flash device                                                                     Device →                              b10  Seq. Flash S.                                                                            L - sequence flashing                                                                          Camera or                                    b11  Ready S.   H - charge completed                                                                           Flash Cont. →                         b12  FDC S.     L - cease flash S.                                                                             Camera                                       b13  Preserved  L                Camera pro-                                  b14  Preserved  L                vides clock                                  b15  Preserved  L                pulses.                                      ______________________________________                                         Notes:                                                                        (a) S. represents Signal.                                                     (b) H and L represent HIGH and LOW, respectively.                             (c)  reads "in response to                                               

The first six data corresponding to the first six bits b0-b5 areproduced from the flash device and are loaded in the flash controller.During the generation of the fist six data, the camera body onlyproduces the clock pulses.

In response to the positive edge of the first bit b0, a first data,namely a power on signal, is transmitted from the flash device to theflash controller, and in response to the negative edge of the first bitb0, the power on signal is loaded in the flash controller. The power onsignal is HIGH when the power switch of the flash device is on.

Similarly, in response to the second bit b1, a second data, namely atwin signal, is sent from the flash device to the flash controller. Thetwin signal is LOW when the connected flash device is the same as flashdevice I and when the flash device is set in the bounce flashing fashionin which light emitter FLO2 is facing other than straight. The twinsignal is HIGH when the situation is other than the above.

In response to the third bit b2, a third data, namely a ready signal, issent from the flash device to the flash controller. The ready signal isHIGH when the main capacitor in the flash device is charged to therequire level, and LOW if not.

In response to the fourth bit b3, a fourth data, namely an FDC signal,is sent from the flash device to the flash controller. The FDC signal isLOW when an FDC signal generator (which corresponds to circuit INF inFIG. 9) is enabled, and HIGH when the FDC signal generator is notenabled. The FDC signal generator is enabled for a period of time afterX contact Sx is changed from a closed state to an opened state with aflash terminating signal from the camera body having reached the flashdevice prior to a lapse of predetermined time after the initiation offlash light emission. I is understood that when no FDC signal isgenerated, the light is not sufficient even after the full emission offlash light. In such a case, it will result in an under exposure.

The fifth bit b4 is preserved for the future use. For example, if anauxiliary light emitter is provided for the autofocus adjustment, asignal in response to the fifth bit b4 can be transmitted indicatingthat the auxiliary light emitter is ready for the light emission.

In response to the sixth bit b5, a sixth data, namely an ID(identification) signal, is sent from the flash device to the flashcontroller. The ID signal is LOW when the connected flash device is aflash device designed for the flash photographing system of the presentinvention. According to the commercially available flash devices, thereare some which produces HIGH on line L2 when the main capacitor ischarged to the required level. When this type of flash device ismounted, the flash controller and camera body read the HIGH, therebydistinguishing the flash device of conventional type with the flashdevice applicable for the present system.

In response to the seventh and eighth bits b6 and b7, a seventh data,namely a flash mode signal, which is a 2-bit signal, is .sent from theflash controller to the flash device through lines L2 and L12. The flashmode signal is determined by the power on signal which has beentransmitted to flash controller IV from the flash device and the dataset in the flash controller by the two-position switch. In other words,the flash controller produces a data representing the actual flash modesignal through lines L2 and L12. Various flash mode signals underdifferent conditions are shown in Table 2 below.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Power Power                                                                   on S. on S.                      Flash Mode S.                                on line                                                                             on line                    L2    L12                                    L2    L12     two-position sw.                                                                          Flash Mode                                                                             b6  b7  b6  b7                             ______________________________________                                        L     L       Simultaneous                                                                              No flash L   L   L   L                              L     L       Sequence    No flash L   L   L   L                              H     L       Simultaneous                                                                              Single flash                                                                           L   L   L   L                              H     L       Sequence    Single flash                                                                           L   L   L   L                              L     H       Simultaneous                                                                              Single flash                                                                           L   L   L   L                              L     H       Sequence    Single flash                                                                           L   L   L   L                              H     H       Simultaneous                                                                              Simultaneous                                                                           H   H   H   H                              H     H       Sequence    Sequence L   H   H   L                              ______________________________________                                    

When the flash device receives a particular flash mode signal shown inTable 2, the flash device carries out the operation based on thatparticular flash mode signal.

As stated above, the data corresponding to bits b0-b5 are sent from theflash device to the flash controller, and the data corresponding to bitsb6 and b7 are sent in the opposite direction, i.e., from flashcontroller to flash device.

In the case where the flash device is connected to connector CN5 and/orCN9 through an extension cable, an undesirable stray capacitance may beproduced among lines L2 and L3 and ground, resulting in an undesirableimpedance in the extension cable. When the ID signal producedcorrespondingly to bit b5 from flash device is HIGH, and in the casewhere no flash controller is connected, there will be no dischargecircuit. Thus, the charge by the HIGH is maintained in the lines as thestray capacitance. Thus, in the following steps corresponding to bits b6and b7, the flash device receives pseudo HIGH signals. According to oneexample, in the case where the desired mode is a single flash mode withone flash device connected to shoe connector CN9 through an extensioncable, pseudo HIGH signals appear as a data corresponding to bits b6 andb7. Thus, the flash device erroneously reads as simultaneous flash modeor sequence flash mode, resulting in error operation. In order to avoidsuch an error operation, the flash device according to the system of thepresent invention produces LOW as the ID signal at the bit b5.

The next eight data (Table 1) corresponding to the next eight bitsb8-b15 are produced from the flash device and are loaded in the camerabody, when a flash device is connected to the shoe connector CN9.

But, when a flash device is connected to the connector CN5 of the flashcontroller IV, the data transmission can be such that the data read fromthe flash devices at bits b8-b15 may be applied, as they are, throughthe flash controller to the camera body, thereby storing the non-reviseddata from the flash device in the camera body. However, this will have aproblem explained below. When a flash device is connected to the flashcontroller through an extension cable, there may be an undesirable delayof signal transmission by the cable and circuit in the flash controller.Thus, the clock pulses sent from camera body to flash device may bedelayed, resulting in a time difference between the positive edges ofthe same clock pulse in the camera body and in the flash device. Inresponse to the positive edge of the clock pulse in the flash device adata is produced which is applied through the cable and the flashcontroller to the camera body, further delaying the data. In the camerabody, the data is read in in response to the negative edge of the clockpulse. But when the total delay, i.e., the sum of delay of the clockpulse sent to the flash device and the delay of the data sent back tothe flash controller, is longer than a period between the positive andnegative edges of the clock pulse, the camera body reads an errorsignal. Thus, according to the system of the present invention the datafrom the flash device is temporarily stored in the flash controller and,then, the data is sent from the flash controller to the camera body.

In the case where flash controller IV is connected to camera body V, butno flash device is connected to the flash controller at connector CN5,flash controller IV produces no signal on line L2 during bits b8-b15,but instead it is held in an open condition, i.e., high impedancecondition. Thus, any signal transmitted from the flash device on shoeconnector CN9 to camera body V will not be interferenced.

When the flash devices are connected to shoe connector CN9 and connectorCN5 of flash controller IV, flash controller IV produces, during bits b6and b7, a data "11", "10" or "01" indicating the multi-flash. Theproduced data is applied to each flash device, which is then held in thehigh impedance condition producing no data through lines L2 and L12.Then, the flash controller determines a data based on the data read fromboth flash devices and the setting of two-position switch. Thedetermined data is transmitted, during bits b8-b15, from flashcontroller IV to camera body V.

Next, each data in bits b8-b15 is described.

In response to the bit b8, a data, namely a power on signal, is sentfrom the flash device or flash controller to the camera body. When it issent from the flash device, the power on signal is HIGH when the powerswitch of the flash device is closed. When it is sent from the flashcontroller, the power on signal is HIGH when at least one flash devicehas provided HIGH to flash controller in the previous step at the bitb0.

In response to bit b9, a data, namely an ID signal, is sent from theflash device or flash controller to the camera body. When the ID signalis sent from the flash device, LOW is applied indicating that theconnected flash device is a flash device designed for the flashphotographing system of the present invention. When the ID signal issent from the flash controller, LOW is applied in the case where theflash controller has received at least one LOW in the previous step atb5 from the connected flash devices.

In response to bit b10, a data, namely a sequence flash signal, is sentfrom the flash device or flash controller to the camera body. If thesequence flash signal is sent from the flash device, it is LOW when themounted flash device is a double flash-head type set in thedouble-action twin flash mode, and HIGH when it is other than that. Ifthe sequence flash signal is sent from the flash controller, it producesLOW when mode is sequence, and HIGH when the mode is other than that.

In response to bit b11, a data, namely a ready signal, is sent from theflash device or flash controller to the camera body. If the ready signalis sent from the flash device, it is HIGH when the main capacitor in theflash device is charged to a required level. If the ready signal is sentfrom the flash controller, it is HIGH when the signals received in theprevious step at b2 are all HIGH, indicating that the connected flashdevices ar both ready for the light emission. When at least one of thetwo flash devices in the previous step b2 has provided LOW to the flashcontroller, the flash controller sends LOW at this step b11.

In response to bit b12, a data, namely an FDC signal, is sent from theflash device or flash controller to the camera body. If the FDC signalis sent from the flash device, it is LOW when the FDC signal generatorof the flash device is enabled. On the contrary, if the FDC signal issent from the flash controller, it is LOW when at least one of the twoflash devices in the previous step b3 has provided LOW to the flashcontroller.

The bits b13, b14 and b15 are preserved for the future use. For the timebeing, LOWs are sent from flash device or flash controller to the camerabody during bits b13-b15.

When the data transmission described above completes, the flash deviceand the flash controller are set in a waiting mode for waiting toreceive pulses from lines L3 and L13. During the waiting mode, line L2produces HIGH when the flash device is charged to the required level,and LOW if not.

Referring back to FIG. 2a, at step #31, the data sent from the flashdevice or flash controller are read in certain register (IOR) in themicrocomputer MC1. Thereafter, at step #32, output O4 produces LOW.Then, at step #33, various data applied to input IP1, such as exposurecontrol mode, set exposure time Tvs in APEX index, set aperture size Avsin APEX index, set or detected (Detection is done by reading marksformed on film cartridge.) film sensitivity Sv in APEX index, etc., arestored at number of registers prepared for each data. At step #34,output signal Bv-Avo (Bv is the brightness of an object to bephotographed in APEX index, and Avo is a fully opened aperture value inAPEX index) from light measuring circuit LM is A-D converted, and theconverted digital signal is stored in a certain register. Then, at steps#35-#37, it is determined, in a similar manner to steps #18-#20, whetheror not to carry out the exposure control operation. When it isdetermined to carry out the exposure control operation, the programadvances to step #80, but if not, the program goes to step #38.

The detail of step #38 is shown in FIG. 3. At step #210, it is detectedwhether or not the FDC signal is LOW or HIGH. At step #210, when it isdetected that FDC signal is LOW, FDC display is effected at step #211,indicating that the sufficient flash light has been emitted. Thereafter,at step #212, charge completion display is disabled. On the contrary, atstep #210, when it is detected that FDC signal is HIGH, FDC display isdisabled at step #213, and at step #214, it is detected whether a chargecompletion signal is present or not. When the charge completion signalis present, the program goes to for display of charge completion. Whenthe charge completion signal is not present, the program goes to step#212 disabling the charge completion signal. Thereafter, the programgoes to step #40.

Referring back to FIG. 2a, at step #40, it is determined whether or nota check data "10101010" is present. When a check data is present,calculations at steps #41 and #42 are carried out, and if not,calculations at steps #43 and #44 are carried out. The calculations atsteps #41, #42, #43 and #44 are described in detail below with referenceto FIGS. 4a to 6.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4a and 4b, a flow chart is shown forcarrying out an ambient light calculation I for step #41.

At step #101, an exposure value EV expressed in APEX index is calculatedthrough an equation (1) below:

    (Bv-Avo)+Avo+Sv=Ev.                                        (1)

Then, at step #102, the exposure control mode is detected, whether it isa P mode (program exposure mode) or not. When it is P mode, theprocedure goes to step #103 and to #104. In these steps, followingcalculations are effected.

    p·Ev=Av (0<p<1)                                   (2)

    Ev-Av=Tv                                                   (3)

wherein Av and Tv are given in APEX index representing aperture valueand exposure time, respectively, to be controlled, and p is a programconstant to determine a ratio of distribution of exposure value Evbetween aperture value and exposure time value. The program constant pdetermines the program chart, and can be set at the design stage or canbe made variable for the manual setting by the user. Then, at step #105,when it is determined that Av<Avo, Avo is assigned to Ava at step #106,and at step #107,

    Ev-Ava=Tv                                                  (5)

is calculated. Then, when Tvo≦Tv, Tv in equation (5) is assigned to Tva(step #112), and at the same time, providing no warning (step #111). Onthe contrary, when Tvo>Tv, Tvo is assigned to Tva (step #110), and atthe same time, providing a warning "UNDER" for the indication of underexposure (step #109). The exposure time Tvo corresponds to the longestcontrollable exposure time in the camera body.

At step #105, when Av obtained through the equation (2) is such thatAv≧Avo, the program goes to step #113 at which it is determined whetherAv>AvM. When Av>AvM, the program goes to step #114 at which AvM isassigned to Ava. Then, at step #115, the calculation of equation (5) iscarried out. Then, at step #116, when it is detected that Tv≦TvM, Tv isassigned to Tva and no warning is provided. On the contrary, when it isdetected that Tv>TvM at step #116, TvM is assigned to Tva and a warning"OVER" is provided for the indication of over exposure. The exposuretime TvM corresponds to the shortest controllable exposure time in thecamera body.

At step #113, when it is detected that Av≦AvM, no warning is produced.Then, the Av obtained through equation (2) is assigned to Avarepresenting the aperture value for photographing under the ambientlight, and the Tv obtained through equation (3) is assigned to Tvarepresenting the shutter speed value for photographing under the ambientlight.

Then, at step #163, a calculation

    Ava-Avo=dAva                                               (4)

is carried out, in which dAva represents a number of steps stopped downunder the ambient light. Then, data Ava, dAva and Tva are stored inregisters.

At step #102, when it is detected that the mode is not P mode, theprogram goes to step #125 (FIG. 4b) to detect whether or not the mode isS mode (exposure time preferred/aperture auto-controlled mode). When themode is S mode, set exposure time data Tvs is assigned to Tva at step#126. Then a calculation

    Ev-Tva=Av                                                  (6)

is carried out. When it is detected that Av<Avo at step #128, Avo isassigned to Ava, and also a warning "UNDER" is provided for theindication of under exposure. When Av≧Avo, the program goes to step #131at which it is detected whether Av>AvM. When Av>AvM, AvM is assigned toAva, and also a warning "OVER" is provided for the indication of overexposure. When it is detected that the condition is not Av<Avo orAv>AvM, Av as obtained from equation (6) at step #134 is assigned toAva, and at the same time, no warning is provided. Thereafter, theprogram goes to step #163.

At step #125, when it is detected that the mode is not S mode, theprogram goes to step #140 to further detect whether or not the mode is Amode (aperture preferred/exposure time auto-controlled mode). When themode is A mode, the program goes to step #141 at which the set aperturevalue Avs is assigned to Ava representing the aperture value forphotographing under abmient light. Then, the calculation of equation (5)is carried out. Then at step #143, when Tvo>Tv, Tvo is assigned to Tvaand at the same time, a warning "UNDER" is provided. When it is detectedat step #143 that Tvo≦Tv, the program goes to step #146. Then, at step#146, when TvM<Tv, TvM is assigned to Tva and, at the same time, awarning "OVER" is provided. When it is detected that the condition isnot Tvo<Tv or TvM<Tv, the result Tv obtained from the equation (5) isassigned to Tva representing the exposure time for photographing underambient light and, at the same time, no warning is provided. Thereafter,the program goes to step #163.

When the mode is not P, S, or A, but is an M mode (manual settingexposure control mode), the program further goes to step #155 and to#156 at which set data Avs and Tvs are assigned to Ava and Tva,respectively. A following calculation

    Ev-(Tva+Ava)=dv

is carried out at step #157. When the result dv of the calculation issuch that dv<-K (K is a constant representing the film latitude), awarning "UNDER" is produced. When the result is such that dv>K, awarning "OVER" is produced. When the result is such that -K≦dv≦k, nowarning is produced. Thereafter, the program goes to step #163.

At step #163, using Ava representing the aperture value forphotographing under the ambient light and Avo representing the fullyopened aperture value, the dAva representing the number of steps stoppeddown under the ambient light is calculated through a following equation

    dAva=Ava-Avo.

the program advances to step #42 for the flash light calculation I.

Referring to FIGS. 5a and 5b, a detail of step #42 for the flash lightcalculation I is shown. At step #170, when the detected mode is P mode,and at step #171, when Avo<3 (Avo=3 corresponds to F-stop number=2.8)"3" is assigned to Avc1. Contrary, at step #171, when Avo≦3, Avo isassigned to Avc1. Then at step #174,

    Avc2=6+(Sv-5)                                              (7)

is calculated. Here, 6 corresponds to F-stop No. 8, and 5 corresponds toISO100. Then, at step #175, when Avc2>AvM, AvM is assigned to Avc2, butis Avc2≦AvM, Avc2 continues to hold the value equal to the resultobtained through equation (7). Then, the program goes to step #177 atwhich a calculation

    Ev+1-6=Av                                                  (8)

is carried out. When the calculated result Av is detected to be Av>Avc2at step #178, avc2 is assigned to Avf at step #179. At the next step#180, when it is detected that Avf+6≧Ev, "6" is assigned to Tvf.Contrary, at step #180, when it is detected that Avf+6<Ev, it is furtherdetected at step #182 whether or not the data obtained from the flashdevice represents the sequence flash mode (or double-action twin flashmode). When the flash mode is other than the sequence flash mode (ordouble-action twin flash mode, "7" is assigned to Tvf. When the flashmode is sequence flash mode (or double-action twin flash mode), "6" isassigned to Tvf, even when Avf+6<Ev.

When the result Av calculated from equation (8) is such that Av<Avc1,the program goes from step #184 to #185, at which Avc1 is assigned toAvf. When the result Av calculated from equation (8) is such thatAvc1≦Av≦Avc2, the result Av is assigned to Avf as an aperture value forphotographing with an aid of flash light. Thereafter, the program goesto step #183 at which "6" is assigned to Tvf. Then, the program goes tostep #204.

At step #170, when it is detected that the mode is not P mode, theprogram goes to step #187 at which it is detected whether the dataobtained from the flash device (or flash controller IV) represents thesequence flash mode (or double-action twin flash mode) or other mode.When the flash mode is a sequence flash mode, "6" (corresponding to 1/60sec) is assigned to Tvk representing the limit of synchronizing exposuretime. When the flash mode is not a sequence flash mode, "7"(corresponding to 1/125 sec) is assigned to Tvk. Thereafter, the programgoes to step #190 at which it is detected whether the mode is A mode ornot.

When it is detected at step #190 that the mode is A mode, set aperturevalue Avs is assigned to Avf (step #192) and Tvk is assigned to Tvf(step #191). Then, the program goes to step #204. When it is detected atstep #190 that the mode is not A mode, the program goes to #193.

Referring to FIG. 5b, at step #193, it is detected whether Tvs>Tvk ornot. If yes, Tvk is assigned to Tvf and, if no, Tvs is assigned to Tvf.Then, at step #196, it is detected whether the mode is S mode or not.When the mode is S mode,

    Ev+1-Tvf=Av                                                (9)

is calculated. Then, it is detected whether the calculated result Av isbelow Avo, above AvM or between Avo and AvM. When the result Av is belowAvo (Av<Avo), Avo is assigned to Avf (step #199). When the result Av isabove AvM (Av>AvM), AvM is assigned to Avf (step #201). And, when theresult Av is between Avo and AvM (Avo≦Av≦AvM), Av is assigned to Avf.Thereafter, the program goes to step #204.

On the other hand, if it is detected at step #196 that the mode is not Smode, i.e., the mode is M mode, the program goes to step #203 in whichthe value Avs is assigned to Avf, and further advances to step #204.

Referring to FIG. 6, the description is now directed to the details ofthe ambient light calculation II at step #43 and flash light calculationII ate step #44.

At step #220, a calculation

    Bv-Avn+Sv=Tv                                               (10)

is carried out. Here, Bv-Avn represents an output of light measuringwherein Avn is an aperture value representing not the aperturecontrolled according to the present embodiment, but an aperture valuerepresenting the manually set or fixed aperture value, such as invarious adaptors like an extention ring, a bellows, a pin hole adaptor,or an interchangeable lens.

Then, at step #221, it is detected whether the mode is M mode or not.When it is M mode, the program goes to step #222 at which set exposuretime Tvs is assigned to control exposure time Tva. Then, a calculationis carried out as follows;

    Tva-Tv=dv,

wherein Tv is the result Tv of equation (10). When the result dv of thecalculation is such that dv<-K (K is a constant representing the filmlatitude), a warning "OVER" is produced. When the result is such thatdv>K, a warning "UNDER" is produced. When the result is such that-K≦dv≦K, no warning is produced. Thereafter, the program goes to step#238.

When it is detected at step #221 that the mode is not M mode, it isunderstood that the mode is automatic exposure control mode. In thiscase, the program follows step #230 et seq. to detect whether the resultTv of equation (10) is smaller than Tvo, greater than TvM, or betweenTvo and TvM. When Tv<Tvo, Tvo is assigned to Tva, and a warning "UNDER"is produced. When Tv>TvM, TvM is assigned to Tva, and a warning "OVER"is produced. When Tvo≦Tv≦TvM, the result Tv of equation (10) is assignedto Tva, and no warning is produced. Thereafter, the program goes to step#238.

At step #238, "0" is assigned to dAva. Then, at step #239, a warningdata is assigned to Ava so as to permit the warning of "NO LENSMOUNTED".

At the next step #240, it is detected whether the mode is P mode or not.When the mode is P mode, the program goes to step #241 for detectingwhether Tv (obtained from equation (10)) is greater than "6". At step#241, when it is detected that

    Tv≦6, ("6" corresponds to 1/60 sec)

"6" is assigned to Tvf. Contrary, at step #241, when it is detected that

    Tv>6,

it is further detected at step #242 whether or not the flash mode is thesequence flash mode. When the flash mode is other than the sequenceflash mode, "7" ("7" corresponds 1/125 sec) is assigned to Tvf. When theflash mode is sequence flash mode, "6" is assigned to Tvf.

At step #240, when the detected mode is not P mode, it is furtherdetected at step #245 whether or not the flash mode is sequence flashmode. When the flash mode is a sequence flash mode, "6" (correspondingto 1/60 sec) is assigned to Tvk representing the limit of synchronizingexposure time. When the flash mode is not a sequence flash mode, "7"(corresponding to 1/125 sec) is assigned to Tvk (step #247). Thereafter,the program goes to step #248 at which it is detected whether the modeis A mode or not.

When it is detected at step #248 that the mode is A mode, Tvk isassigned to Tvf (step #249). Then, the program goes to step #253. Whenit is detected at step #248 that the mode is not A mode, the programgoes to #250. At step #250, it is detected whether Tvs≦Tvk or not. Ifyes, Tvs is assigned to Tvf and, if no, Tvk is assigned to Tvf. Then,the program goes to step #253.

At step #253, "0" is assigned to dAvf. Then, at step #254, a warningdata is assigned to Avf so as to permit the warning of "NO LENSMOUNTED". Then, the program goes to step #45 (FIG. 2b).

It is to be noted that in the case of sequence flash mode three flashdevices, at maximum, emit light sequentially. Thus, the limit ofsynchronizing exposure time, i.e., a period of time between the closureof X contact (Sx) and the start scan of trailing curtain, is made longerthan the time necessary for the three flash devices to emit light, suchas 1/60 second. On the contrary, when the flash mode is not a sequenceflash mode, the flash lights emit light simultaneously. Thus, the limitof synchronizing exposure time is made longer than the time necessaryfor one flash light to exit light, such as 1/125 second.

Referring back to FIG. 2b, after the above described calculations, theprogram goes to step #45 at which it is detected whether or not theready signal (indicating the completion of charge) is produced from theflash device. When the ready signal is present, a flash photographing isavailable. Thus, aperture value Avf for the flash photographing andexposure time value Tvf for the flash photographing are applied to thedisplay circuit DP. On the contrary, when the ready signal is notpresent, a photographing under an ambient light is available. In thiscase, aperture value Ava for the ambient light photographing andexposure time value Tva for the ambient light photographing are appliedto the display circuit DP. Then, at steps #48-#50, a procedure similarto steps #18-#20 is carried out, that is, the further procedure willfollow the step #80 et seq. if exposure control operation is to becarried out, and the step #55 et seq. if not.

At step #55, microcomputer MC1 produces HIGH from outputs O4 and O6.Accordingly, NAND gate NA1 and AND gate AN11 (FIG. 7) are enabled topermit signal transmission through lines L2 and L12 from camera body Vto the flash device. Then, HIGH is produced from output O5 for apredetermined period of time T2 (such as 150 microseconds). The HIGHfrom output O5 is transmitted through lines L3 and L13 to the flashdevice and flash controller, thereby informing that the mode is CF mode,that is a mode for transmitting various data from camera body V to theflash devices. Then, microcomputer MC1 sets the aperture value Avf forphotographing under flash light in the serial in/out register (IOR).Thereafter, the set data are serially sent out. Next, the the data offilm sensitivity Sv and data of exposure mode are set in register (IOR),and are sent out serially. Next, the data of focal length fv of themounted interchangeable lens are set and serially sent out. Then, atstep #63, outputs 04 and 06 produce LOW, and the program goes to step#64.

Next, the description is particularly directed to the data transmissionbetween the flash device and camera body V.

Referring to FIG. 7, a detail of input/output control circuit IOC isshown. When the mode is FC mode, a LOW is applied to circuit IOC fromoutput O6 of microcomputer MC1. Thereupon, NAND gate NA1 produces HIGH,and AND gate AN11 produces LOW, thereby turning transistors BT15 andBT17 off and maintaining line L2 in the open condition. And the outputO4 produces HIGH, thereby enabling AND gates AN5, AN7 and AN9. Then, theclock pulses from output SCK of microcomputer MC1 are transmittedthrough AND gate AN5 and OR gate OR3. At the HIGH of the clock pulses,inverter IN3 produces LOW, thereby turning transistor BT11 on, and atthe LOW of the clock pulses, inverter IN5 produces HIGH, thereby turningtransistor BT13 on. Thus, line L3 produces a similar clock pulses.

In the FC mode, the data from the flash device through line 2 arepermitted to pass through the circuit IOC to serial-input terminal SINof microcomputer MC1 in the following manner. In the FC mode,transistors BT15 and BT17 are both turned off. Thus, when HIGH isapplied to L2 from the flash device, transistor BT19 turns on, therebyproducing HIGH from inverter IN7. When LOW is applied to L2, transistorBT19 turns off, thereby producing LOW from inverter IN7. These HIGH andLOW from inverter IN7 are transmitted through OR gate OR1 toserial-input terminal SIN of microcomputer MC1.

On the contrary, when the mode is CF mode, output O6 produces HIGH,thereby enabling NAND gate NA1 and AND gate AN11. Then the output O4produces HIGH, thereby enabling AND gates AN5, AN7 and AN9, and the datafrom serial-output terminal SOU of microcomputer MC1 pass through ANDgate AN9. When the signal from output SOU is HIGH, NAND gate NA1produces LOW, thereby turning transistor BT15 on, and providing HIGH toline L2. When the signal from output SOU is LOW, AND gate AN11 producesHIGH, thereby turning transistor BT17 on, and providing LOW to line L2.

Referring back to FIG. 2b, a further description on the flow chart isgiven. At step #64, since the preparation for the exposure control iscompleted, "1" is assigned to a flag (JF1). Then, at steps #65 and #66,it is detected whether or not to start an exposure control operation, ina similar manner to the previous steps #19 and #20. If yes, the programgoes to step #80, and if no, the program goes to step #70. At step #70,it is detected whether or not the light measuring switch S1 is turnedon, by the detection whether or not input i1 is receiving LOW. Wheninput i1 receives LOW, the program returns back to step #11 and repeatsthe above described operations. Contrary, when input i1 receives HIGH,the operation of auto-focus control circuit AF is stopped by themicrocomputer MC1, and, nothing is made to be displayed through displaycircuit DP. Then, "0" is assigned to flag JF1. At the next step #74, itis permitted to receive interruption signal through terminal iT.Thereafter, LOW is produced from output O1, thereby turning transistorBT1 off to cut off the power supply (+V), and ending the operation ofmicrocomputer MC1.

Referring to FIG. 2c, when it is required to carry out the exposurecontrol operation, the program follows the step #80 et seq. At step #80,the operation of auto-focus control circuit AF is stopped. Then, outputO4 produces HIGH, and output O5 produces HIGH for a predetermined periodof time T3, such as 210 microseconds. Then, output O4 produces LOW. Theflash device and flash controller read this signal from output O5through line L3 so that they are informed that an ES mode has beenestablished for carrying out the exposure control operation. Then, it iswaited until line L1 is grounded by the closure of X contact Sx providedin the camera body. At step #84, it is detected whether a ready signalis produced from the flash device or not. When the ready signal isproduced from the flash device and is applied to the microcomputer MC1,the exposure control values Tvf and dAvf for flash photographing areproduced from output OP1 and are applied to exposure control circuit ECC(step #85). On the contrary, when microcomputer MC1 is not receiving anyready signal, the exposure control values Tva and dAva for ambient lightphotographing are produced from output OP1 and are applied to exposurecontrol circuit ECC (step #89). In the case of flash photographing, itis further detected whether the mode is sequence flash mode or not. Ifthe mode is sequence flash mode, an analog signal corresponding to filmsensitivity Sv is produced from output ANO, and if not, output ANOproduces an analog signal corresponding to Sv-0.5. A further detail ofthese analog signals will be described later in connection with FIG. 8.

At step #90, it is made to display nothing through display circuit DP,and then, output O2 produces HIGH. Thereupon, release circuit RLoperates to start the exposure control operation. Then, the aperturemechanism is operated to control the size of aperture, and a reflectionmirror (not shown) flips up. When the mirror flips up completely, aleading curtain starts to scan. When the leading curtain completes itsscan, X contact Sx closes, thereby effecting, in the case of flashphotographing, the emission of flash light. The amount of flash light tobe emitted will be described later in connection with FIG. 8. After theexposure time from the start of the leading curtain, a trailing curtainstarts to scan. When the trailing curtain completes its scan, thereflection mirror moves down, and the aperture mechanism sets theaperture in the fully opened condition. When the above exposure controloperation completes, switch S4 turns off. As a result, HIGH is providedto input i3 of microcomputer MC1. At step #92, microcomputer MC1 waitsuntil it receives HIGH to its input i3. When input i3 receives HIGH, theprogram goes to step #93 at which LOW is produced from output O2, and atstep #94, it is detected whether or not input i1 is receiving LOW, whichis accomplished in response to the closure of light measuring switch S1.If input i1 is receiving LOW, the program returns to step #11, and if itis receiving HIGH, the program goes to step #95 to assign "0" to flag(JF1). At the next step #96, it is permitted to receive interruptionsignal through terminal iT. Thereafter, LOW is produced from output O1,thereby turning transistor BT1 off to cut off the power supply (+V), andending the operation of microcomputer MC1.

Referring to FIG. 8, a detail of light amount control circuit FS isshown. It is provided for controlling the amount of flash light to beemitted from each connected flash device. A photodiode PD is located atsuch a position as to receive light which has been transmitted throughthe picture taking lens and reflected from the film surface. The outputof photodiode PD is connected to a diode D11 for the logarithmiccompression of output signal from photodiode PD. Also connected tophotodiode PD is an operational amplifier OA which receives data Sv fromanalog output ANO of microcomputer MC1 when it is a sequence flash mode,and data Sv-0.5 when it is not a sequence flash mode. Operationalamplifier OA produces, during the emission of flash light, a datadetermined by the intensity of flash light reflected from the object tobe photographed, controlled aperture value and film sensitivity. Such adata can be expressed as:

    Qv-Sv-Avf

    or

    Qv+(Sv-0.5)-Avf,

wherein Qv is a logarithmically compressed value of intensity ofreflected light from the object under flash light illumination. Theoutput of operational amplifier OA is applied to the base of transistorBT29 which produces a collector current representing the logarithmicallyexpanded value of output signal from amplifier OA. The collector currentis integrated in capacitor C11, which produces an integrated voltage:

    2.sup.Sv ·∫2.sup.Qv dt/2.sup.Avf

    or

    2.sup.Sv-0.5 ·∫2.sup.Qv dt/2.sup.Avf.

From output O2, HIGH is provided to circuit FST of FIG. 8 for startingthe exposure control operation. In response to HIGH from output O2, ANDgate AN13 is enabled to produced HIGH. HIGH from output O2 is alsoapplied to a delay circuit DL1 which after the delay of a predeterminedtime produces HIGH. The delayed HIGH is applied also to reset terminalsof T flip-flop TF1 and D flip-flop DF1, thereby releasing the resetcondition. Thus, T flip-flop TF1 and D flip-flop DF1 are both in theoperative condition. At this point, both T flip™flop TF1 and D flip-flopDF1 are in a reset condition, producing LOW from Q terminal and HIGHfrom Q terminal.

From terminal INT, which is the output of inverter IN7, shown in FIG. 7,HIGH and LOW signals transmitted from the flash device through line L2are applied. Under the ES mode, HIGH is applied from INT when the flashdevice is in the ready condition. Upon closure of X contact Sx, theflash device starts to shoot light, and at the same time, the signalfrom INT changes in the following manner. Upon closure of X contact, thesignal from INT changes to LOW for 2.5 milliseconds. Then, it holds HIGHfor 1 millisecond, and then holds LOW for 5.5 milliseconds. Thereafter,the signal from INT is maintained HIGH. In other words, upon closure ofX contact, terminal INT produces two LOW pulses sequentially. The firstLOW pulse is produced in response to the closure of X contact and has apulse width of 2.5 milliseconds. The second LOW pulse is produced afterthe interval of 1 millisecond from the end of the first LOW pulse andhas a pulse width of 5.5 milliseconds. Therefore, when delay circuit DL1starts to produce HIGH, AND gate AN15 produces LOW, inverter IN9produces HIGH, NAND gate NA3 produces HIGH, and NAND gate NA4 producesLOW. Accordingly, transistors BT21 and BT27 turn on, and transistorsBT23 and BT25 turn off. By the turn on of transistor BT21, a constantcurrent Ic flows from the source +V through transistor BT21, resistorR2/3 and constant current source CI1 to ground. Thus, a firstpredetermined voltage is produced at a junction between resistor R2/3and constant current source CI1, and which first predetermined voltageis applied to a non-inverting input of comparator AC1. The resistor R2/3and constant current source CI1 are so selected that the firstpredetermined voltage is equal to 70% of a level appropriate for theproper exposure.

Next, the description is directed to the light amount control operationof the case when the mode is not the sequence flash mode with the flashdevice being connected to connector CN5 and/or CN9.

When the emission of the flash light starts at the positive edge of thefirst LOW pulse, AND gate AN13 produces LOW, thereby producing HIGH fromNAND gate NA4, and turning transistor BT27 off. Thus, capacitor C11starts to integrate collector current of transistor BT29. In this case,since terminal ANO is producing an analog signal representing Sv-0.5,the integrated voltage Vx across the capacitor can be given as: ##EQU1##When the integrated voltage Vx becomes equal to 0.7 Z, that is, when

    0.7·2.sup.Sv ·∫2.sup.Qv dt/2.sup.Avf =0.7 Z=Ic·R2/3                                        (11)

wherein Z is a constant representing a voltage for the proper exposure,comparator AC1 produces HIGH, thereby producing HIGH from one-shotcircuit OS1. The pulse from OS1 is applied through circuit IOC of FIG. 7and line L3 to the flash device, thereby stopping the emission of flashlight. Since equation (11) can be given as:

    ∫2.sup.Qv dt=2.sup.Avf ·Z/2.sup.Sv,          (12)

the flash device emits flash light for an amount appropriate for theproper exposure. For example, it takes about 2 milliseconds to fullyemit the flash light, the flash device will stop its emission not longerthan 2 milliseconds, which is shorter than the duration of the first LOWpulse. After the above described operation, circuit FST of FIG. 8carries out a further operation based on the further signal, such as thesecond LOW pulse obtained from terminal INT, but since the flash mode isnot sequence flash mode, such a further operation has no meaning.

Next, the description is directed to the light amount control operationfor the sequence flash mode, particularly with two light emissions: thefirst light emission is effected during the first LOW pulse; and thesecond light emission is effected during the first half of the secondLOW pulse. In this case, two flash devices are connected to connectorCN5 and CN9, respectively. The emission of the first flash light iscarried out in a similar manner as described above. The only differenceis in the value of current for integrating the capacitor C11. In thesequence flash mode, analog output terminal ANO provides a signal Svand, therefore, the integrated voltage across capacitor C11 can be givenas:

    Vx'=2.sup.Sv ·∫2.sup.Qv dt/2.sup.Avf.

When Vx' becomes equal to 0.7 Z, that is, when

    0.7 Z=2.sup.Sv ·∫2.sup.Qv dt/2.sup.Avf,

comparator AC1 produces HIGH to stop the emission of flash light. Theabove equation can be rewritten as:

    ∫2.sup.Qv dt=0.7·2.sup.Avf ·Z/2.sup.Sv(13)

indicating that the emitted light amount ∫2^(Qv) dt is equal to 70% ofnecessary light amount for the proper exposure. Then, when the signal atterminal INT changes from LOW to HIGH at the end of the first LOW pulse,T flip-flop TF1 changes its condition, thereby producing HIGH from its Qterminal and LOW from its Q terminal At this time, D flip-flop DF1receives output of comparator AC1. Thus, when the exposure amountreaches 70% of necessary light for the proper exposure during theshooting of the first flash light, D flip-flop DF1 is changed to such acondition that its Q terminal produces HIGH and its Q terminal producesLOW. If the exposure amount resulted below 70% of necessary light forthe proper exposure, even when the first shooting of flash light iscompleted, comparator AC1 continues to produce LOW even after the firstLOW pulse. Thus, D flip-flop DF1 is maintained to such a condition thatits Q terminal produces LOW and its Q terminal produces HIGH.

When the light amount reached 70% of necessary light for the properexposure by the first shooting of flash light, NAND gate NA3 continuesto produce HIGH. Thus, NAND gate NA4 produces LOW after the delay causedby delay circuit DL3 from the receipt of HIGH from terminal INT. Then,transistor BT27 turns on to discharge capacitor C11.

When the light amount is still below 70% of necessary light for theproper exposure even at the end of the first LOW pulse, i.e., after 2.5milliseconds from the start emission of the first shooting of the flashlight (for example, one full shooting of flash light lasts about 2milliseconds), capacitor C11 continues to hold its charge, in a mannerdescribed below. After 2.5 milliseconds from the start emission, HIGH isprovided from terminal INT, thereby changing the condition of Tflip-flop TF1 such that its Q terminal produces HIGH. At that time, Dflip-flop maintains its Q terminal HIGH since the comparator AC1continues to produce LOW. Thus, NAND gate NA3 produces LOW. And, evenwhen the output from delay circuit DL3 produces HIGH, NAND gate NA4continues to produce HIGH, thereby maintaining transistor BT27 off.Thus, capacitor C11 further integrates the current representing thereceived light.

In the case where the light amount reached 70% of necessary light amountfor the proper exposure during the first shooting of flash light, ANDgate AN15 produces HIGH and inverter IN9 produces LOW, thereby turningtransistor BT23 on to provide a second predetermined voltage level,determined by resistor R1/3 and constant current source CI1, tonon-inverting input of comparator AC1. The resistor R1/3 and constantcurrent source CI1 are so selected that the second predetermined voltageis equal to 30% of a level appropriate for the proper exposure.

On the contrary, in the case where the light amount did not reach 70% ofnecessary light amount before the end of the first LOW pulse, NAND gateNA3 produces LOW, thereby tuning transistor BT25 on. Thus, non-invertinginput of comparator AC1 receives a third predetermined voltage leveldetermined by resistor R1 and constant current source CI1, which isequal to 100% of necessary light amount for the proper exposure.

Then, in response to next LOW from terminal INT (that is the start ofthe second LOW pulse which occurs after 3.5 milliseconds from the startemission of the first shooting), the second shooting of flash lightstarts. When the light amount had reached 70% during the shooting of thefirst flash light, transistor BT27 turns off again in response to thesecond LOW pulse, and capacitor C11, which has been discharged at theaperture of the 1 millisecond HIGH pulse, starts to integrate collectorcurrent of transistor BT29 from the beginning. Contrary, when the lightamount had not reached 70% during the shooting of the first flash light,transistor BT27 is maintained off and, therefore, the capacitor C11,which is still carrying the charge accumulated during the shooting ofthe first flash light, continues to integrate collector current oftransistor BT29 in addition to the charge already stored therein

In the case, where the light amount had reached 70% during the shootingof the first flash light, the second shooting of the flash light stopswhen the amount of light amount during the second shooting reaches 30%of necessary light for the proper exposure, that is when the followingequation is satisfied.

    ∫2.sup.Qv2 dt=0.3·2.sup.Avf ·Z/2.sup.Sv(14)

In this manner, the proper exposure is effected when the first andsecond shootings of flash light are completed with the ratio of thelight amount emitted by the first and second shooting being fixed to7:3.

In the case, where the light amount has not reached 70% during theshooting of the first flash light, the second shooting of the flashlight stops when the amount of light emitted during the second shootingreaches the remaining percentage of necessary light for the properexposure, that is when the following equation is satisfied.

    ∫(2.sup.Qv1 +2.sup.Qv2)dt=2.sup.Avf ·Z/2.sup.Sv(15)

In this manner, the proper exposure is effected when the first andsecond shooting of flash light are completed with the ratio of the lightamount emitted by the first and second shooting being A:10-A, wherein Ais less than 7.

Next, the description is directed to the light amount control operationfor the sequence flash mode, particularly with three light emissions:the first light emission is effected during the first LOW pulse; thesecond light emission is effected during the first half (2.5milliseconds) of the second LOW pulse; and the third light emission iseffected during the latter half (3 milliseconds) of the second LOWpulse. In this case, three flash devices are connected to connector CN5,CN7 and CN9, respectively. The first and second light emissions areeffected in the same manner as described above by the flash devicesconnected to connectors CN5 and CN9, and the third light emission iseffected by the flash device connected to connector CN7 after thecounting of 2.5 milliseconds from the negative edge of the second LOWpulse. At the start of the third light emission, since the signal fromterminal INT is LOW, capacitor C11 continues to integrate the collectorcurrent from transistor BT29. If the light amount during the first andsecond emission is not sufficient for the proper exposure, anineffective stop emission signal might be produced through line L3during the emission of the third light, but the third flash deviceconnected to connector CN7 emits full light or a amount determinedwithin the third flash device, because only the start emission signal istransmitted through the connector CN7.

It is to be noted that since the FDC signal (the signal produced to stopthe emission of the flash light during the second shooting when thelight amount has reached 100%) is controlled to produce within the firsthalf (2.5 milliseconds) of the second LOW pulse and the exposure controlsignal (the signal produced to stop the emission of the flash light,such as, during the first shooting when the light amount has reached70%) is produced with the first LOW pulse, there is no chance of anerror operation caused by the ineffective stop emission signal.

Next, the description is directed to the circuit of a double flash-headtype electronic flash device, such as flash device I, shown in FIG.1b-2, in connection with FIGS. 9a, 9b, 10, 11, 12, 13a, 13b, 13c and 14.

Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b, control circuit FLC1 is shown. Throughterminal L3, a pulse with its width representing either FC, CF or ESmode, clock pulses for the data transmission, and pulses to to stop theemission of flash light are applied. When the terminal L3 receives HIGH,transistor BT31 turns on, thereby producing HIGH from output P3 ofinverter IN11. A mode determining circuit TIC counts the pulsewidth ofthe HIGH pulse from output P3 and determines the mode, and therebycontrolling the flash device. The detail of the mode determining circuitTIC is described below.

Referring to FIG. 10, mode determining circuit TIC includes inverterIN19 which receives HIGH from terminal P1 (FIG. 9b, bottom) during whenline L1 is grounded upon closure of X contact Sx to turn transistorBT39, but it receives LOW during the receipt of a pulse having a widthrepresenting either FC, CF or ES mode and clock pulses for the datatransmission. Thus, during the latter, inverter IN19 produces HIGH. WhenHIGH is applied from terminal P3, AND gate AN43 produces HIGH, therebyproducing HIGH from one-shot circuit OS3. By the HIGH from one-shotcircuit OS3, counter CO1 is reset, thereby start counting clock pulsesφ2 from output CKO of microcomputer MC2. Also, by the same HIGH fromone-shot circuit OS3, flip-flops FF1-FF7 are reset. Counter CO1 providessignals representing the result of count to decoder DE0, which thenproduces four delayed HIGH pulses from its outputs Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4.From the start counting in counter CO1, signals at outputs Y1, Y2, Y3and Y4 are delayed 60 microseconds, 120 microseconds, 180 microsecondsand 240 microseconds, respectively. Therefore, from the start counting,flip-flop FF1 is held in the set condition for 60 microseconds.Similarly, flip-flop FF3 is held in the set condition for 120microseconds, flip-flop FF5 is held in the set condition for 180microseconds, and flip-flop FF7 is held in the set condition for 240microseconds. Therefore, AND gate AN45 is held in the enabled conditionduring 60-120 microseconds from the start counting. Similarly, from thestart counting, AND gate AN47 is enabled during 120-180 microseconds andAND gate AN49 is enabled during 180-240 microseconds.

Then, one-shot circuit OS5 produces a pulse in response to the negativeedge of the pulse applied from terminal P3. The pulse from terminal P3has a pulse width which is equal to either 90 microseconds, 150microseconds or 210 microseconds. When the pulse from terminal P3 has apulse width of 90 microseconds, the pulse from one-shot circuit OS5 istransmitted through AND gate AN45 to a set terminal of flip-flop FF9,thereby producing HIGH from its Q terminal and further from terminal FC.When the pulse from terminal P3 has a pulse width of 150 microseconds,the pulse from one-shot circuit OS5 is transmitted through AND gate AN47to a set terminal of flip-flop FF11, thereby producing HIGH from its Qterminal and further from terminal CF. Furthermore, when the pulse fromterminal P3 has a pulse width of 210 microseconds, the pulse fromone-shot circuit OS5 is transmitted through AND gate AN49 to a setterminal of flip-flop FF13, thereby producing HIGH from its Q terminaland further from terminal ES.

After the pulse having a pulse width which is equal to either 90microseconds or 150 microseconds, a train of clock pulses, each having apulse width of about a few microseconds, are applied from terminal P3for the data transmission. In this case, one-shot circuits OS3 and OS5produce pulses in response to such clock pulses from AND gate AN43, butsince the time interval between these two pulses from circuits OS3 andOS5 is a few microseconds which is much narrow than 60 microseconds,there will be no error operation of flip-flops FF9, FF11 and FF13.

When terminal FC produces HIGH, counter CO3 is released from the resetcondition, thereby making the decoder DE1 in a condition ready toproduce output. Then, the train of data transmission clock pulses fromterminal P3 are inverted in inverter IN21 and are applied to counterCO3, which counts up in response to the negative edges of the invertedpulses. The counted values in counter CO3 are applied to decoder DE1which produced HIGH from one of its sixteen outputs f0-f15 in a mannerdescribed below. When counter CO3 has counted one pulse, it produces"0001" from its output, and output f0 produces HIGH. When counter CO3has counted two pulses, it produces "0010" from its output, and outputfl produces HIGH. Similarly, when counter CO3 has counted eight pulses,it produces "1000" from its output and output f7 produces HIGH. Whencounter CO3 has counted nine pulses, it produces "1001" from its output,and output f8 produces HIGH. And when counter CO3 has counted sixteenpulses, it produces "1111" from its output, and output f15 producesHIGH. These signals produced from outputs f0-f15 are used forcontrolling the gates for transmitting data. When output f15 producesHIGH, AND gate AN44 is enabled, thereby transmitting signal frominverter IN21 to one-shot circuit OS4 and further to one-shot circuitOS6. In response to the positive edge of a pulse from inverter IN21,that is, in response to the negative edge of a sixteenth clock pulseunder the FC mode, one-shot circuit OS4 produces a pulse. By thenegative edge of this pulse, one-shot circuit OS6 is triggered toproduce a pulse which resets flip-flop FF9, thereby producing LOW fromits Q terminal, which is substantially equal to terminal FC. Then, themode is set to a waiting mode.

When terminal CF produces HIGH to establish a CF mode, the resetcondition of counter CO4 is released and, at the same time, the decoderDE2 is set in a condition ready to produce output. Then, counter CO4counts up clock pulses from inverter IN21. When it counts 24 pulses(this is equal to 3 bites) it produces an output "11000" and, thereupon,output g23 of decoder DE2 produces HIGH. The HIGH from decoder DE2enables AND gate AN46, thereby transmitting signal therethrough frominverter IN21. Then, in response to the negative edge of the 24th pulsefrom terminal P3 that is in response to the positive edge of AND gateAN46, one-shot circuit OS8 produces a pulse. By the negative edge ofthis pulse, one-shot circuit OS10 produces a pulse. Then, by the pulsefrom one-shot circuit OS10, flip-flop FF11 is reset, thereby producingLOW from its Q terminal, which is substantially equal to CF terminal.Then, the mode is set to a waiting mode.

When terminal ES produces HIGH to establish an ES mode, LOW is appliedfrom terminal P1. This LOW is applied in the following steps. When thetrailing curtain of shutter mechanism completes its scan to close theshutter, X contact Sx opens, thereby turning transistor BT39 (FIG. 9b)off. Thus, terminal P1 produces LOW. By the LOW applied from terminalP1, inverter IN19 produces HIGH, thereby producing a pulse from one-shotcircuit OS7. Accordingly, flip-flop FF13 is reset, thereby producing LOWfrom its Q terminal, which is substantially equal to ES terminal. Then,the mode is set to a waiting mode.

Now, referring to FIG. 9b, an emission amount control circuit FTC1 isshown at the right-hand bottom thereof. The detail of this circuit FTC1will be described later in connection with FIG. 11. Coupled to theemission amount control circuit FTC1 is microcomputer MC2, the operationof which will be described in detail later in connection with FIGS. 13a,13b, 13c and 14. During the waiting mode, all the terminals FC, CF andES and all the outputs f0-f15 of mode determining circuit TIC produceLOW. Thus, each of NOR gates NO3 and NO5 produces HIGH. Emission amountcontrol circuit FTC1 has an output INS which produces LOW in response tothe closure of X contact Sx. The LOW. from output INS is maintained for2.5 milliseconds and, thereafter, it changes to HIGH which is held for 1millisecond. Then, LOW is produced for 5.5 milliseconds, and then, HIGHis produced for 2 milliseconds. Thereafter, output INS is maintained atLOW. In other words, upon closure of X contact, output INS produces twoLOW pulses sequentially. The first LOW pulse is produced in response tothe closure of X contact and has a pulse width of 2.5 milliseconds. Thesecond LOW pulse is produced after the interval of 1 millisecond fromthe end of the first LOW pulse and has a pulse width of 5.5milliseconds. The signal from OR gate OR2 is made LOW because AND gateAN24 is disabled by the closure of X contact Sx. Thereafter, AND gateAN21 (FIG. 9a) and OR gate OR5, the signals from terminal INS is appliedto AND gates AN18 and AN19, and further to transistor BT35 and BT37.Accordingly, the signals from terminal INS is produced through line L2.In the case of waiting mode, AND gate 24 (FIG. 9b) produces HIGH whenAND gate AN33 is producing HIGH at the completion of charge, andproduces LOW when AND gate AN33 is producing LOW while charging. Whenthe charge is completed, transistors BT83 and BT35 turns on to produceHIGH through line L2, but when the charge is not completed, transistorsBT81 and BT37 turns on to produce LOW through line L2.

When the FC mode is established, mode determining circuit TIC producesHIGH from its output terminal FC, thereby producing LOW from NOR gateNO5 and further from AND gate AN21. When output f0 of mode determiningcircuit TIC produces HIGH, OR gates OR7 and OR5 produce HIGH, therebyproducing HIGH on the line L2, which HIGH is the power on signalproduced corresponding to bit b0, shown in Table 1.

When output f1 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, AND gateAN29 is enabled, thereby producing LOW from AND gate AN29 when switchSB1 closes upon turning of light emitter FLO2 of flash device I tobounce flashing fashion, or HIGH when switch SB1 opens upon turning oflight emitter FLO2 to straight flashing fashion. Therefore, when ANDgate AN29 produces HIGH, AND gate AN18 produces HIGH and AND gate AN19produces LOW, thereby turning transistors BT83 and BT35 on. Thus, HIGHis produced through line L2. Contrary, when AND gate AN29 produces LOW,AND gate AN18 produces LOW, and AND gate AN19 produces HIGH, therebyturning transistors BT81 and BT37 on to produce LOW through line L2.This signal is the twin signal produced in response to the second bitb1, shown in Table 1.

When output f2 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, AND gateAN31 is enabled. Accordingly, signals from AND gate AN33 are transmittedtherethrough. AND gate AN33 produces HIGH when both charge detectorsCHD1 and CHD2 produce HIGH upon charge completion of both maincapacitors C1 and C2 in flash device I. This signal from AND gate AN33is produced on line L2 as ready signal.

When output f3 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, AND gateAN35 is turned to operative condition. Thus, the FDC signal, which isLOW when there is an indication of generation of a cease flash signal,and HIGH when there is no such an indication, from light adjustmentsuccess indication circuit INF (this will be described in detail laterin connection with FIG. 12) is produced through line L2 in response tobit b3, shown in Table 1.

Then, when outputs f4 and f5 of mode determining circuit TIC, which areconnected to nowhere, produce HIGH, OR gate OR5 produces LOW, AND gateAN19 produces) HIGH and AND gate AN18 produces LOW. Thus, transistorsBT81 and BT37 turns on, thereby producing LOW along the line L2. Thesesignals are produced in response to bits b4 and b5, shown in Table 1,wherein the signal in response to bit b4 is for the future use and thesignal in response to bit b5 is the identification signal for theidentification of the present system.

When outputs f6 and f7 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH,NOR gate NO3 produces LOW, thereby producing LOW from each of AND gatesAN18 and AN19. Thus, transistors BT35 and BT37 turn off, therebytransmitting the flash mode signal (see Table 1) determined in the flashcontroller IV through line L2 and transistor BT33 to inverter IN13. Morespecifically, when HIGH is sent from flash controller to the circuit ofFIG. 9a through line L2, transistor BT33 turns on, thereby producingHIGH from inverter IN13. When LOW is sent through line L2, transistorBT33 turns off, thereby producing LOW from inverter IN13. While theoutput f6 is HIGH, AND gate AN25 is enabled, thereby transmitting the7th clock pulse from terminal P3. In response to the negative edge ofthis clock pulse, D flip-flop DF3 stores a signal in response to bit b6from terminal P2. Then, when output f7 is HIGH, AND gate AN27 isenabled, thereby transmitting the 8th clock pulse from terminal P3.Thus, D flip-flop DF5 stores a signal in response to bit b7 fromterminal P2. The data stored in D flip-flops DF3 and DF5 are sent toinputs i11 and i12 of microcomputer MC2, thereby detecting the flashmode determined in the flash controller.

As understood from Table 1, when a flash device other than the flashdevice I described above is connected, at least one of the two Dflip-flops DF3 and DF5 is storing HIGH. Therefore, OR gate OR8 producesHIGH, and AND gate AN23 produces HIGH during HIGH is produced from oneof outputs f8-f15. Thus, NOR gate NO3 produces LOW, thereby forciblystopping any data from being sent out through line L2 from the controlcircuit FLC1. Since the flash mode is either simultaneous or sequenceflash mode, signals produced from flash controller IV in response tobits b8-b15 are transmitted through line L2 and are stored in camerabody. Thus, during the presence of bits b8-b15, transistors BT35 and BT7are maintained off to prevent any interference in the data exchangebetween camera body and flash controller.

Still referring to FIG. 9a, in the case where the flash mode is a singleflash mode wherein only one flash is connected to the camera, datastored in flip-flops DF3 and DF5 will be both LOW. Thus the operationafter the bits b6 and b7 is different from that described above. In thiscase, immediately after the signals LOW and LOW produced in response tobits b6 and b7, OR gate OR8 and AND gate AN23 produce LOW, and NOR gateNO3 produces HIGH. Thus, AND gates AN18 and AN19 are enabled, therebypermitting data send out from control circuit FLC1 through line L2.Then,

when terminal f8 produces HIGH, OR gate OR 9 (FIG. 9b) produces HIGH.Thus, OR gate OR5 and, in turn, AND gate AN18 produces HIGH, wherebyHIGH is produced on line L2, in a manner described above. This HIGH online L2 is the power on signal (Table 1) produced in response to bit b8.Then, when HIGH is produced from terminal f9, OR gate OR9 produces LOW,thereby producing LOW on line L2. This LOW is the ID signal (Table 1)produced in response to bit b9. Then, when HIGH is produced fromterminal f10, a signal representing the on or off condition of switchSB1 (FIG. 9b) is produced from AND gate AN37 (FIG. 9b) and, in turn, ORgate OR9, thereby producing HIGH on line L2. This signal on line L2 isthe sequence flash (or double-action twin flash) signal (Table 1)produced in response to bit b10, and is LOW when the flash device is setin the bounce flash fashion and indicating the sequence flash mode (ordouble-action twin flash mode). By this LOW the camera body detects thatthe mode is sequence flash mode (or double-action twin flash mode).Then, when terminal f11 produces HIGH, the charge completion signal fromAND gate AN33 is transmitted through AND gate AN39 and OR gate OR9 toline L2.

It is to be noted that by the HIGH from terminal FC of mode determiningcircuit TIC, one-shot circuit OS2 (bottom of FIG. 9a) produces a pulsewhich resets flip-flop FF2. Thus, in the case of single flash mode, theready signal (or charge completion signal) produced in response to bitb11 causes transistors BT35 and BT33 to turn on, resulting in HIGH frominverter IN13, that is, from terminal P2. In this case, AND gate AN20continues to produce LOW, and flip-flop FF2 is maintained in resetcondition. Therefore, NAND gate NA5 produces HIGH, thereby enabling ANDgate AN22 (FIG. 9b) to transmit start emission signal from terminal P1to emission amount control circuit FTC1. On the contrary, when thecharge is not completed, transistor BT37 turns on, thereby producing LOWon line L2. Thus, transistor BT33 turns off to produce LOW from terminalP2. Accordingly, flip-flop FF2 is set, thereby producing LOW from NANDgate NA5 in response to HIGH produced from terminal ES. Thus, AND gateAN22 is disabled. Accordingly, notwithstanding the start emission signalfrom terminal P1, no flash emission will be carried out. Thus, by theready signal sent to the camera body in response to bit b11, the flashdevice itself determines whether or not to emit light, and by thereceived ready signal, the camera body determines whether or not tocarry out the flash photographing operation. Thus, there will be noerror operation in the system of the present invention.

In the case of multi-flash mode, no signal will be produced from theflash device during bits b8-b15, but instead, the flash controllerproduces in a manner described later, on line L2 HIGH when both flashdevices are ready to emit light, and LOW when at least one flash deviceis not ready to emit light. Then, this signal will be read in the camerabody as ready signal (charge completion signal), and in the flash deviceit is also read by flip-flop FF2, thereby determining whether or not toemit light.

As to the output on line L2 from flash device, the electric currentflowing away from the flash device to produce HIGH is smaller than theelectric current flowing towards the flash device to produce LOW. Inother words there is an impedance difference between these twoconditions, for the reason explained below.

There is a case in which two or more flash devices are connected tocamera body parallelly through a suitable option-connector to emit anintensified flash light simultaneously. In such a case when terminal f11produces HIGH to produce the charge completion signal, at least oneflash device may not produce a charge completion signal while others do.In the flash device producing no charge completion signal, transistorBT37 turns on. Thus, even if the transistor BT35 in other flash deviceturns on, the electric current from transistor BT35 is restricted to acertain level by constant current circuit CI10 and transistor BT83.Therefore, even if transistor BT35 turns on, the electric currenttherefrom will be directed to transistor BT37 of flash device producingno charge completion signal. Therefore, transistor BT33 in any one ofthe connected flash device is maintained off, thereby setting flip-flopFF2. Thus, no light emission is effected from the flash devicesconnected to option-connector.

Then, when the terminal f12 of mode determining circuit TIC producesHIGH, a signal from light adjustment success indication circuit INF istransmitted through AND gate AN41, OR gate OR9 and is outputted on lineL2. This signal is the FDC signal produced in response to bit b12 (Table1), and is used in the camera body for the indication of condition offlash device. Then, when one of terminals f13, f14 and f15 is producingHIGH, OR gate OR9 produces LOW, thus, during which LOW is produced online L2. As understood from Table 1, bits b13, b14 and b15 are preservedfor the future use.

Next, the description is directed to the emission amount controloperation under ES mode, in connection with FIGS. 9a, 9b and 11. Whenterminal P1 produces HIGH in response to the closure of X contact Sx ofcamera body (FIG. 1b-1), NAND gate NA5 produces HIGH when flip-flop FF2is in the reset condition. And furthermore, when the charge iscompleted, AND gate AN22 produces HIGH along line FSA. Accordingly,one-shot circuit OS9, shown in FIG. 11, produces a HIGH pulse. By thispulse through OR gate OR13, flip-flop FF15 is reset and flip-flops FF17and FF14 are set. Then, by a HIGH from Q terminal of flip-flop FF14,counter CO5 is released from the reset condition, and at the same time,decoder DE3 is set in a condition ready to produce output signal.Decoder DE3 has five outputs Y5, Y6, Y7, Y8 and Y9 each of whichproduces a HIGH pulse after a predetermined time from the HIGH producedfrom Q terminal of flip-flop FF14. After 2.5 milliseconds from the HIGHproduced from Q terminal of flip-flop FF14, output Y5 of decoder DE3produces a HIGH pulse. Similarly, output Y6 produces a pulse after 3.5milliseconds from the HIGH from Q terminal of flip-flop FF14. Also,outputs Y7, Y8 and Y9 produce a pulse after 6 milliseconds, 9milliseconds and 11 milliseconds. Flip-flop FF15 has a set terminal Sconnected to OR gate OR11 which is further connected to outputs Y5 andY8, and a reset terminal R connected to OR gate OR13 which is furtherconnected to to outputs Y6, Y9 and one-shot circuit OS9. Accordingly,for 2.5 milliseconds from the HIGH produced from Q terminal of flip-flopFF14, the Q terminal of flip-flop FF15 produces LOW. Then, it producesHIGH for 1 milliseconds (between 2.5-3.5 milliseconds), LOW for 5.5milliseconds (between 3.5-9 milliseconds), and HIGH for 2 milliseconds(between 9-11 milliseconds). Thereafter, it produced LOW. These HIGH andLOW signals from the Q terminal of flip-flop FF15 is transmitted throughline INS to OR gate OR2 (FIG. 9b). In this case, even if the charge iscompleted, AND gate AN24 produces LOW by the HIGH produced from terminalP1 (FIG. 9b). Thus, OR gate OR2 produces these signals applied theretofrom line INS. When the mode is ES mode, NOR gate NO5 (FIG. 9a) producesHIGH, and, therefore, AND gate AN21 produces the signal supplied theretofrom OR gate OR2. These signals are further transmitted in a mannerdescribed above, and are outputted to line L2. These signals are usedfor controlling the emission amount described above in connection withFIG. 8. In the case where this flash device is connected to a camerawhich does not produce a pulse that represents the mode on line L3, aHIGH produced from terminal P1 upon completion of charge is applied,since terminal ES is producing LOW, to line FSA, thereby effecting thelight emission.

Referring to FIG. 9b, microcomputer MC2 has a terminal O13 whichproduces HIGH when the primary or first flash mode under the sequenceflash mode is to be established. Terminal O11 produces HIGH when it is adouble-action twin flash mode. Terminal O12 produces HIGH when thesecondary or second flash mode under the sequence flash mode is to beestablished. Terminal O10 produces HIGH when it is a simultaneous flashmode or single flash mode. Terminal O14 produces HIGH when it is lightamount auto-adjustment mode, and LOW when it is light amount manualadjustment mode. In FIG. 9b, a circuit FLD is provided for generatingemission amount data for use in both light amount auto-adjustment modeand light amount manual adjustment mode. The emission amount datagenerating circuit FLD has two outputs e1 and e2 which are applied todecoder DE5, shown in FIG. 11, so that decoder DE5 produces 3-bit signalfrom its outputs d1, d2 and d3. The relationship between signals onoutputs e1 and e2 and signals on outputs d1, d2 and d3, and thecorresponding mode and amount of emission for each combination of signalare shown in Table 3 below.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        e1  e2    d1    d2  d3  Flash Mode   Amount of Emission                       ______________________________________                                        H   H     H     L   L   Auto-Adjustment                                       H   L     H     L   L   Manual Adjustment                                                                          Full amount                              L   H     L     H   L   Manual Adjustment                                                                          1/2 of Full amount                       L   L     L     L   H   Manual Adjustment                                                                          1/4 of Full amount                       ______________________________________                                    

As understood from Table 3, only terminal d2 of decoder DE5 (FIG. 11)produces HIGH when it is required to emit 1/2 of full amount. In thiscase, transistor BT43 turns on, thereby defining a current path betweenpower source BA3 and ground through phototransistor PT1, capacitor C15and transistor BT43. Phototransistor PT1 is provided to receive directlythe light emitted from light emitter FLO2 and produces current which isin relation to the intensity of emitted light. Light emitter FLO2 emitslight in response to HIGH (start emission signal) from OR gate OR21through line ST2. Since the start emission signal is also appliedthrough OR gate OR20 to transistor BT45, transistor BT45 is maintainedon before the emission of flash light, thereby discharging capacitorC15. Then, in response to the start emission signal, light emitter FLO2starts to emit light and, at the same time, capacitor C15 starts tocharge current corresponding to the the light emitted from light emitterFLO2, as detected by phototransistor PT1. Thus, the voltage chargedacross capacitor C15 is in relation to the amount of light emitted fromlight emitter FLO2, and is provided to non-inverting input of comparatorAC3. When the charged voltage across capacitor C15 exceeds apredetermined voltage determined by resistors R5 and R7, comparator AC3produces a HIGH SIGNAL which is applied to one-shot circuit OS11,thereby producing a HIGH pulse (stop emission signal). The stop emissionsignal is applied through AND gate AN63 and OR gate OR25 through lineSP2, so as to stop the emission of flash light from light emitter FLO2.

When it is required to emit 1/4 of full amount, only terminal d3 ofdecoder DE5 produces HIGH. In this case, transistor BT41 turns on,thereby defining a current path between power source BA3 and groundthrough phototransistor PT1, capacitor C13 and transistor BT41. It is tobe noted that the capacitance of capacitor C13 is equal to half thecapacitance of capacitor C15. Therefore, stop emission signal isproduced when the charged amount reaches half the amount of that chargedcapacitor C15.

When it is required to emit full amount or automatically adjusted amountof light from light emitter FLO2, only terminal d1 of decoder DE5produces HIGH, thereby producing HIGH from OR gate OR20. Thus,transistor BT45 is maintained on to prevent one-shot circuit OS11 fromproducing any stop emission signal.

Still referring to FIGS. 9a, 9b and 11, an operation under double-actiontwin flash mode is described. In this case, microcomputer MC2 (FIG. 9b)produces HIGH from its output O11, thereby producing HIGH from OR gatesOR15, OR17 and OR19. Therefore, in this case, after the closure of Xcontact Sx, AND gate AN51 (center of FIG. 11) produces HIGH for 2.5milliseconds, which HIGH is transmitted through OR gate OR21 on lineST2, serving as the first start emission signal. Thus, light emitterFLO2 starts the light emission. In this case, if the mode isauto-adjustment shown in Table 3, AND gate AN65 is being enabled. Thus,the first stop emission signal, which is sent from the camera bodythrough terminal P3, is transmitted through AND gate AN65, OR gate OR25to line SP2, thereby stopping the emission of flash light from lightemitter FLO2. On the contrary, if the mode is manual adjustment modeshown in Table 3, AND gate AN63 is being enabled. Thus, the first stopemission signal, which is sent from one-shot circuit OS11, is appliedthrough AND gate AN63, OR gate OR25 to line SP2, thereby stopping theemission of flash light from light emitter FLO2.

Then, between 3.5 and 6 milliseconds from the closure of X contact Sx,AND gate AN55 produces HIGH, which is transmitted through line ST1,serving as the second start emission signal. Thus, light emitter FLO1starts the light emission. In this case, if the mode is auto-adjustmentand microcomputer MC2 (FIG. 9b) is producing HIGH from its output O14,the second stop emission signal applied thereto from terminal P3 istransmitted through AND gate AN67 to line SP1, thereby stopping theemission of flash light from light emitter FLO1. Also, the second stopemission signal is applied through AND gate AN61, OR gate OR23 and ANDgate AN69 to light adjustment success indication circuit INF. On thecontrary, if the mode is manual adjustment mode, microcomputer MC2continuers to produce LOW, thereby no stop emission signal is producedfrom AND gate AN67. Thus, light emitter FLO1 flashes with its fullamount.

Next, an operation under simultaneous flash mode or single flash mode isdescribed. In this case, microcomputer MC2 (FIG. 9b) produces HIGH fromits output O10, thereby producing HIGH from OR gate OR17. Therefore, inthis case, after the closure of X contact Sx, AND gate AN51 (center ofFIG. 11) produces HIGH for 2.5 milliseconds, which HIGH is transmittedthrough OR gate OR21 on line ST2, serving as the start emission signal.Thus, light emitter FLO2 starts the light emission. In this case, if themode is auto-adjustment shown in Table 3, the stop emission signal,which is sent from terminal P3, is transmitted through AND gate AN65, ORgate OR25 to line SP2, thereby stopping the emission of flash light fromlight emitter FLO2. On the contrary, if the mode is manual adjustmentmode, the stop emission signal, which is sent from one-shot circuitOS11, is applied through AND gate AN63, OR gate OR25 to line SP2,thereby stopping the emission of flash light from light emitter FLO2. Inthis case, no start emission signal will be produced on line ST1 and,therefore, light emitter FLO1 remains non-actuated. Also, the stopemission signal, which has been applied from terminal P3 within 2.5milliseconds from the closure of X contact Sx, is fed to lightadjustment success indication circuit INF through AND gate AN59, OR gateOR23 and AND gate AN69.

Next, an operation under sequence flash mode is described. In the caseof the first flash light emission in this mode, microcomputer MC2 (FIG.9b) produces HIGH from its output O13, thereby producing HIGH from ORgates OR15, OR17 and OR19. Therefore, after the closure of X contact Sx,line ST2 produces HIGH for 2.5 milliseconds. Thus, light emitter FLO2starts the light emission. In this case, if the mode is auto-adjustment,the emission of flash light stops in response to the stop emissionsignal from terminal P3, and if the mode is manual adjustment mode, theemission of flash light stops in response to the stop emission signalfrom one-shot circuit OS11. Also, the stop emission signal, which issent from terminal P3 between 3.5-6 milliseconds from the closure of Xcontact Sx, is applied through AND gate AN61, OR gate OR23 and AND gateAN69 to light adjustment success indication circuit INF. Therefore, evenif it did not reach 2/3 of the necessary amount for the proper exposureby the first flash light, FDC display, for the indication of sufficientamount of light for the proper exposure, will be effected if the emittedlight amount in total of the first and second flash lights reaches thenecessary amount.

On the other hand, in the case of the second flash light emission,microcomputer MC2 (FIG. 9b) produces HIGH from its output O12, therebyAND gate AN53 becomes enabled. Between 3.5 and 6 milliseconds from theclosure of X contact Sx, AND gate AN53 produces HIGH, thereby emittingflash light from light emitter FLO2. Light emitter FLO2 stops emissionin response to the stop emission signal on line SP2 produced fromterminal P3 or from one-shot circuit OS11. Also, the stop emissionsignal, which is sent from terminal P3 between 3.5-6 milliseconds fromthe closure of X contact Sx, is applied to light adjustment successindication circuit INF. In the sequence flash mode described above, noflash light will be emitted from light emitter FLO1, if the employedflash device is the double flash-head type I.

Referring to FIG. 12, the description is directed to light adjustmentsuccess indication circuit INF. When the stop emission signal fromcontrol circuit FTC1 is produced on line FDS, flip-flop FF21 is set. Atthis moment, when the mode is ES mode, HIGH is provided on line ES frommode determining circuit TIC (FIG. 9a). Therefore, AND gate AN71produces LOW, thereby holding the counter CO7 in the reset condition.Then, when it becomes waiting mode to provide LOW on line ES, AND gateAN71 produces HIGH, thereby producing LOW from inverter IN20 to transmitFDC signal to AND gate AN35 (FIG. 9b). Also, by the HIGH from AND gateAN71, counter CO7 is released from its reset condition, thereby startingthe count of clock pulses φ2 from microcomputer MC2. Counter CO7 has twooutputs t0 and t1. Output t0 produces a train of pulses having afrequency of 8 Hz for turning transistor BT47 on and off repeatedly.Thus, light emitting diode LD1 connected to transistor BT47 blinks witha frequency of 8 Hz. Output t1 produces a high pulse after 3 secondsfrom the start counting of counter CO7. The HIGH produced from output t1is applied through OR gate OR27 to flip-flop FF21, thereby resettingflip-flop FF21. Thus, counter CO7 is reset and, at the same time,inverter IN20 produces HIGH. Furthermore, light emitting diode LD1 stopslight emission.

In the case where the photographings are carried out successively with avery short intervals, the ES mode may be established during the blinkingof light emitting diode LD1. In such a case, when mode determiningcircuit TIC produces HIGH from its output ES, AND gate AN71 producesLOW, and inverter IN20 produces HIGH. Furthermore, counter CO7 is turnedto reset condition, thereby forcibly stop blinking the light emittingdiode LD1. Furthermore, by the HIGH from the output ES, one-shot circuitOS13 produces a pulse which resets flip-flop FF21.

Now, referring to FIGS. 13a, 13b, 13c and 14, the operation ofmicrocomputer MC2 is described. When it becomes CF mode, modedetermining circuit TIC produces HIGH from its output CF which isapplied to interruption terminal iT of microcomputer MC2. Thereupon,microcomputer MC2 starts operation from step S3 shown in FIG. 13a. Atstep S3, the terminal interruption is permitted. When the terminalinterruption starts, the data transmitted to terminal SIN from terminalP2 are taken in microcomputer MC2 in accordance with the clock pulsesapplied to terminal SCK from terminal P3. Then, the aperture value dataAvf for the flash photographing is stored in a certain register inmicrocomputer MC2. Next, similarly, various serial data (such as filmsensitivity Sv, exposure control mode) are stored in different registersin microcomputer MC2. Furthermore, 1-bite long data fv, representing thefocal length of lens, is stored in a certain register in microcomputerMC2. By the above steps, data are transferred from camera body tomicrocomputer MC2. Then, to count a predetermined period of time (suchas 10 seconds), necessary data is stored in an internally providedcounter which then starts counting (step S10). When the predeterminedtime has been counted, interruption is permitted Then, at steps S12 andS13, respectively, it is detected whether terminals i13 and i14 arereceiving HIGH or not to determined the selected mode for flash asindicated in Table 3. When both terminals are receiving HIGH, as happenswhen the selected mode is auto-adjustment mode, the program goes to stepS15. On the contrary, when at least one of two inputs i13 and i14 isreceiving "LOW", microcomputer MC2 further detects whether or not thedata representing the exposure control mode as obtained from camera bodyis for the manual mode or not. If the data representing the exposurecontrol mode as obtained from camera body is for the manual mode, theprogram goes to step S18. If it is not for the manual mode, even if themode set in the flash device is a manual mode, the program follows theauto-adjustment mode, and therefore, the program goes to step S15. Atstep S15, a display for the indication of the auto-adjustment iseffected. Then, output O14 produces HIGH (step S16), and "1" is assignedto flag (AMF). Thereafter, the program goes to step S21. Contrary, atstep S18, a display for the indication of the manual adjustment iseffected. Then, output O14 produces LOW and "0" is assigned to flag(AMF). Thereafter, the program goes to step S21.

Referring to FIG. 13b, at steps S21 et seq., it is determined which oneof the flash modes has been selected in accordance with the signalapplied to inputs i10, i11 and i12. When inputs i12 and i11 are bothreceiving HIGH, the required mode is the simultaneous flash mode and,therefore, the program goes to step S23 for the display of simultaneousflash mode. Thereafter, HIGH is produced from output O10, and LOW isproduced from each of outputs O11, O12 and O13. Then, the program goesto step S34. At step S34, it is detected whether or not input i10 isproducing HIGH. If input i10 is producing HIGH indicating that the flashdevice is arranged in the straight flashing fashion, the program goes tostep S36. On the contrary, if input i10 is producing LOW indicating thatthe flash device is arranged in the bounce flashing fashion, the programgoes to step S35 for the indication of bounce flashing fashion andfurther to step S60.

When input i12 is receiving HIGH and input i11 is receiving LOW, therequired mode is the sequence flash mode and particularly for effectingthe first or primary flash of the sequence flash mode. In this case, theprogram goes to step S24 for producing HIGH from output O13 and then tostep S25 for the display of primary flash. Thereafter, LOW is producedfrom each of outputs 010, 011 and 012. Then, the program goes to stepS55.

When input i12 is receiving LOW and input i11 is receiving HIGH, therequired mode is the sequence flash mode and particularly for effectingthe secondary flash of the sequence flash mode. In this case, theprogram goes to step S27 for producing HIGH from output O12 and then tostep S28 for the display of secondary flash. Thereafter, LOW is producedfrom each of outputs O10, O11 and O13. Then, the program goes to stepS34.

When both inputs i12 and i11 are receiving LOW indicating that only oneflash device I is connected directly or through the flash controller,the program goes to step S29. At step S29, it is detected whether inputi10 is receiving HIGH or not. If input i10 is producing HIGH indicatingthat the flash device is arranged in the straight flashing fashion, theprogram goes to step S30 for the display of single flash. On thecontrary, if input i10 is producing LOW indicating that the flash deviceis arranged in the bounce flashing fashion, the program goes to step S48for the indication of double-action twin (DAT) flash mode. Thereafter,the program goes to step S49 to produce HIGH from output O11 and to stepS50 to produce LOW from each of outputs O10, O12 and O13. Then, inaccordance with the maximum and minimum available light amount fromlight emitter FLO1, a maximum controllable amount IvM and minimumcontrollable amount Ivm are set at step S51 and, thereafter, the programgoes to step S41.

At step S36, data indicating the flash shooting angle as produced fromangle data generator ZD (FIG. 9b) upon turning of light emitter FLO2, isstored, and at step S37, the flash shooting angle is displayed. Then, itis detected whether or not flag AMF is carrying "1". If it is carrying"1", the program goes to step S40, and if not, the level of signals atinputs i13 and i14 are detected. Then, in the case of auto-adjustmentmode or manual adjustment mode with the full emission, IvM and Ivm areset, respectively, for the maximum and minimum controllable amount ofthe light emitter FLO2. In the case of manual adjustment mode, but otherthan the full emission, the set maximum controllable amount correspondsto the amount of emission indicated in Table 3. After setting themaximum and minimum controllable amounts IvM and Ivm in the abovedescribed manner, the program goes to step S41.

At step S41, it is detected whether or not an interchangeable lens isproperly mounted on the camera body. If the lens is not mounted, or notproperly mounted, on the camera body, it is displayed that no lens ismounted and, thereafter, the program goes to step S59. Furthermore, ifthe lens is not mounted, a special data is sent in place of the data Avffor the aperture value to the flash device. Thus, the flash device, uponreceipt of the special data, detects that the no lens is mounted. On thecontrary to the above, if it is detected at step S41 that aninterchangeable lens is properly mounted, the program goes to step S43to carry out calculations:

    IvM+Sv-Avf=DvM

    and

    Ivm+Sv-Avf=Dvm,                                            (15)

wherein DvM and Dvm are the maximum and minimum distances, respectively,which the flash light can shoot with the proper exposure. Thereafter, atstep S45, it is detected whether or not the minimum shooting distanceDvm is shorter than a lower limit shooting distance DvL determined, forexample, by parallax. In the case where

    Dvm<DvL,

DVL is used, in place of Dvm, for the minimum distance. Thereafter, theprogram goes to step S52.

At step S52, it is detected whether the flag AMF is carrying "1" or not.If the flag AMF is carrying "1" representing the auto-adjustment mode, acontrollable range of distance is determined by the maximum controllablelight amount IvM and minimum controllable light amount Ivm, and thedetermined range is displayed. Contrary, if the flag AMF is carrying "0"representing the manual adjustment mode, a photographing distance whichgives the proper exposure is determined by maximum controllable lightamount IvM, and the determined photographing distance is displayed.Then, the aperture value determined by the data Avf for the aperturevalue under flash photographing, focal length determined by the data fvfor the focal length of the mounted lens, and film sensitivitydetermined by the data Sv for the film sensitivity are displayed.Thereafter, the program returns back to step S12 to repeat theoperations of data reading, calculation and display. Then, when theoutput CF of mode determining circuit TIC (FIG. 9a) provides HIGH tointerruption input iT of microcomputer MC2, the operation from step S3is repeated. It is to be noted that at step S55, a determination whethera lens is mounted or not, as in step S41, is carried out. If a lens ismounted, the program goes to step S57, and if not, no lens is displayedand, thereafter, the program goes to step S59.

The modes which provide the controllable range of distance or thephotographing distance which gives the proper exposure are thesimultaneous flash mode, single flash mode, the second flashing underthe sequence flash mode (provided that, for all these modes, the flashdevice is not arranged in the bounce flashing fashion, but in thestraight flashing fashion), and double-action twin flash mode. In thecase of double-action twin flash mode, the controllable range ofdistance or the photographing distance which gives the proper exposurewhich will be displayed is based on the light emitter FLO1. Accordingly,in the case of the first flashing under the sequence flash mode,simultaneous flash mode and the second flashing under the sequence flashmode (provided that, for all these modes, the flash device is arrangedin the bounce flashing fashion), no display is effected for thecontrollable range of distance or for the photographing distance whichgives the proper exposure. It is to be noted that in the case of thesimultaneous flash mode, the second flashing under the sequence flashmode, or the single flash mode, provided that for all these modes theflash device is arranged in the bounce flashing fashion, a display forthe indication of bounce flashing is effected at step S35. Thereafter,the program goes to step S60. Furthermore, since it is very rare toprovide a proper exposure when light emitter FLO2 is in the bounceflashing fashion for the second flashing under the sequence flash mode,a warning is produced at step S61. Thereafter, the program goes to stepS55.

Referring to FIG. 14, when microcomputer MC2 is supplied with anelectric power, it follows the program after step S70. At step S70,display FDP1 is erased and, at the same time, an interruption toterminal iT is permitted. Then, in order to establish the simultaneousor single flash mode, output O10 produces HIGH, and outputs O11, O12 andO13 produces LOW and, thereafter, the program goes to step S74.

At step S74, it is detected whether or not the mode is anauto-adjustment mode in accordance with the signal applied to inputs i13and i14. If the detected mode is an auto-adjustment mode, "AUTO" isdisplayed and, then, HIGH is produced from output O14 and "1" isassigned to flag AMF. Then, the program goes to step S81. If thedetected mode is not an auto-adjustment mode, "MANUAL" is displayed and,then, LOW is produced from output O14. Then, "0" is assigned to flag AMFand, the program goes to step S81. At step S81, "5" is assigned toregister (Sv) for the indication of ISO 100. Then, at step S82, a signalfrom input i10 is detected for the determination whether or not lightemitter FLO2 is arranged in the bounce flashing fashion. If it is in thebounce flashing fashion, "BOUNCE" is displayed at step S94, and theprogram advances to step S95. If it is detected at step S82 that lightemitter FLO2 is in the straight flashing fashion, the program goes tostep S83 for reading the flash shooting angle as produced from angledata generator ZD (FIG. 9b), and the read angle is displayed. Then, itis detected whether or not the flag AMF is carrying "1" representing theauto-adjustment mode. If the mode is auto-adjustment mode, the maximumand minimum controllable amounts IvM and Ivm, respectively, for thedetected flash shooting angle are set. Then,

    IvM+Sv=GvM

    and

    Ivm+Sv=Gvm

are calculated for the display of maximum and minimum guide numbers GvMand Gvm, respectively, for the film having an ISO 100. Then, the programgoes to step S95. On the contrary, at step S85, if it is detected thatthe flag AMF is carrying "0" representing the manual mode, signalsapplied to inputs i13 and i14 are determined, and the maximumcontrollable amount IvM based on the detected flash shooting angle isset. Then, a calculation,

    GvM=IvM+Sv

is carried out for the display of guide number GvM based on the setvalues. Thereafter, the program goes to step S95.

At step S95, in order to indicate that no data related to the lens hasbeen transmitted from the camera body, "NO LENS" is displayed. It isfurther displayed that the film has ISO 100. Then, the program goes tostep S97. At step S97, S98 and S99, it is repeatedly checked whether ornot any change is made to the settings effected by the external settingmeans. If any change has been made in the setting, the program returnsto step S70 to repeat the above described operation and also to changethe display.

In the case where no interruption signal is transmitted within a certainperiod of time (such as 10 seconds) from the supply of interruptionsignal from terminal CF to input iT, the microcomputer itself starts theinterruption (such an interruption is referred to as a counterinterruption) when an internally provided counter has counted apredetermined time. Thereupon, the microcomputer carries out the programfrom step S70. Thus, in this case, for the 10 seconds after the stopsupply of the data from the camera body, a display based on the datafrom the camera body is effected. After that 10 seconds, the data whichcan be obtained by the values set in the flash device is displayed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 15a, 15b, 16 and 17, the flash devices IIand III are described.

Referring to FIGS. 15a and 15b, parts of control circuit FLC2 or FLC3which are different from control circuit FLC1 shown in FIG. 9b, areshown. More particularly, FIG. 15a shows a part corresponding to adotted-line block XVa in FIG. 9b, and FIG. 15b shows a partcorresponding to a dotted-line block XVb in FIG. 9b. The flash device IIor III has only one light emitter FLO3 or FLO4 and, therefore, thedouble-action twin flash mode is not available. Therefore, in the caseof FC mode, it is not necessary to indicate at bits b1 and b10 the twinflash mode. Thus, terminals fl and f10 of mode determining circuit TICare directly connected to OR gates OR7 and OR9, respectively, andtherefore, HIGH is produced in response to bit b1 and b10. Furthermore,microcomputer MC3 has no output O11 that produces HIGH representing thedouble-action twin flash mode.

Referring to FIG. 16, a part of an emission amount control circuit FTC2which is different from that shown in FIG. 11 is shown. Under thesimultaneous or single flash mode, output O10 of microcomputer MC3 (FIG.15b) produces HIGH which is applied to OR gate OR31 and to AND gateAN75, thereby enabling AND gate AN75. Accordingly, AND gate AN75transmits HIGH for 2.5 milliseconds from the closure of X contact Sx inthe camera body as produced from flip-flop FF17 (FIG. 11). This 2.5milliseconds long HIGH pulse is applied through OR gate OR35 and throughline ST4 to light emitter FLO3 or FLO4 (FIG. 1b-2), thereby starting theemission of flash light. If the adjustment mode is an auto-adjustmentmode, stop emission signal produced from terminal P3 is applied throughAND gate AN83, OR gate OR39 to terminal SP4 thereby stopping the lightemission from light emitter FLO3 or FLO4. The stop emission signal isalso applied through AND gate AN87 to light adjustment successindication circuit INF, thereby displaying that the light adjustment hasbeen completed successfully. On the contrary, if the adjustment mode isa manual adjustment mode, a pulse produced from one-shot circuit OS11(FIG. 11) is applied through AND gate AN85 and OR gate OR39 to line SP4,thereby stopping the light emission. For the first flashing under thesequence flash mode, output O13 of microcomputer MC3 (FIG. 15b) producesHIGH, thereby producing HIGH from OR gates OR31 and OR33. Then, whenflip-flop FF17 provides HIGH through AND gate AN75 and OR gate OR35 inresponse to the closure of X contact Sx, light emitter FLO3 or FLO4starts the light emission. In a similar manner described above, thelight emission stops in response to the emission stop signal. As tolight adjustment success indication circuit INF, a HIGH pulse producedfrom flip-flop FF19 for 2.5 milliseconds after passing 3.5 millisecondsfrom the closure of X contact Sx is transmitted, if the mode isauto-adjustment mode, through AND gate AN81 and OR gate OR37 to AND gateAN87. During this 2.5 milliseconds, the stop emission signal is sentfrom terminal P3 through AND gate AN87 to circuit INF. For the secondflashing under the sequence flash mode, output O12 produces HIGH,thereby producing HIGH from OR gate OR33. Then, the HIGH pulse producedfrom flip-flop FF19 for 2.5 milliseconds after passing 3.5 millisecondsfrom the closure of X contact Sx is transmitted through AND gate AN79and OR gate OR35, thereby starting the light emission. Then, inaccordance with the stop emission signal provided from terminal P3 orfrom one-shot circuit OS11, the light emission stops. In this case, ifthe mode is auto-adjustment mode, the stop emission signal provided fromterminal P3 is applied through AND gate AN87 to light adjustment successindication circuit INF.

Referring to FIG. 17, a part of a flow chart of microcomputer MC3 (FIG.15b) which is different from that shown in FIGS. 13a-13c is shown. Inthe procedure from step S21 et seq., the desired flash mode isdetermined in accordance with the signal from outputs i11 and i12. WhenHIGH is produced from two outputs i12 and i11, it is understood that thesimultaneous flash mode is selected and, therefore, the simultaneousflash mode is displayed at step S101. Then, at step S105, output O10produces HIGH and, then, at step S106 outputs O12 and O13 produce LOW.Thereafter, the program goes to step S34 to detect whether or not theflash device is arranged in bounce flashing fashion.

Back again to step S21, when HIGH is produced from output i12 and LOW isproduced from output i11, the mode is primary flash of the sequenceflash mode. Thus, at step S102, the primary flash is displayed. Then,output O13 produces HIGH and outputs O10 and O12 produces LOW.Thereafter, the program goes to step S55 of FIG. 13c.

At step S21, when LOW is produced from outputs i12 and HIGH is producedfrom output i11, representing the secondary of the sequence flash mode,the secondary flash is displayed at step S103. Then, output O12 producesHIGH and outputs O10 and O13 produces LOW and, thereafter, the programgoes to step S34.

At step S21, when LOW is produced from both outputs i12 and i11, asingle flash is displayed. Then, the program goes to step S105.

Referring to FIG. 18, a detail of flash control circuit CNC is shown. Atupper left corner of FIG. 18, mode determining circuit TIC, which hasbeen described in detail before in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10 isshown. The operation under FC mode is described. While mode determiningcircuit TIC is producing HIGH from one of its outputs f0-f5, NOR gatesNO11 and N015 produce LOW, thereby disabling AND gates AG2, AG64, AG1and AG65 to establish a condition for reading data on lines L2 and L12.Thus, the signals on line L2 are transmitted through transistor BT53 andinverter IN27 to line r21, whereas the signals on line L12 aretransmitted through transistor BT69, inverter IN31 to line r22. Then,the signals appearing on line r22 in response to bits b0, b1, b2, b3 andb5 are stored in D flip-flops DF19, DF21, DF23, DF25 and DF27,respectively. When the sequence flash mode is selected, switch SS isheld opened, and when the simultaneous flash mode is selected, switch SSis held closed. When two flash devices are connected, D flip-flops DF11and DF19 produce HIGH from their Q terminals. Thus, AND gate AG47produces HIGH. When two flashes are not connected, at least one of Dflip-flops DF11 and DF19 produces LOW from its Q terminal. Thus, ANDgate AG47 produces LOW, and in turn, AND gates AG45 and AG59 produceLOW. The output of AND gate AG45 is connected to a line X0. D flip-flopsDF17 and DF27 are provided to store the identification signal inresponse to bit b5. When the two flash devices connected to the cameraare designed for the flash photographing system of the presentinvention, both D flip-flops DF17 and DF27 receive LOW. In this case,AND gate AG63 produces HIGH. When at least one of the two flash devicesis a type that produces only HIGH on line L2, AND gate AG63 producesLOW. Then, when both flash devices are of the type applicable for thesystem of the present invention and when sequence flash mode isselected, AND gate AG61 produces HIGH. But, when at least one of the twoflash devices is not the type applicable for the system of theinvention, AND gate AG61 produces LOW even if switch SS is opened uponselection of sequence flash mode. Now, when the sequence flash mode isselected with two flash devices being connected, AND gates AG47 and AG61produce HIGH. Thus, AND gate AG45 produces HIGH along line X0. When thesimultaneous flash mode is selected, AND gate AG61 produces LOW. Thus,regardless of output signal from AND gate AG47, AND gate AG59 producesHIGH.

In the case of a sequence flash mode, a LOW produced from AND gate AG59is applied to AND gate AG41. Then, at the timing when a HIGH is producedfrom output f6 of mode determining circuit TIC, the low applied to ANDgate AN59 is transmitted through AND gate AG41, OR gates OR47, OR43 andOR41, AND gate AG1 and transistor BT57 to line L2. Then, at the timingwhen a HIGH is produced from output f7 of mode determining circuit TIC,the HIGH from AND gate AG47 is transmitted through AND gate AG43, ORgates OR47, 43 and OR41, AND gate AG2 and transistor BT55 to line L2.Therefore, the flash device connected directly to the camera bodythrough the hot shoe is applied with a signal "01" representing thesecondary flash of the sequence flash mode. Also at the timing when aHIGH is produced from output f6 of mode determining circuit TIC, a HIGHproduced from AND gate AG47 is applied through AND gate AG55, OR gateOR51, AND gate AG64 and transistor BT65 to line L2. Then, at the timingwhen a HIGH is produced from output f7 of mode determining circuit TIC,LOW produced from AND gate AG59 is applied through AND gate AG57, ORgate OR51, AND gate AG65 and transistor BT67 to line L12. Thus, theflash device connected to camera body through the flash controller isapplied with a signal "10" representing the primary flash of thesequence flash mode.

In the case of a simultaneous flash mode, AND gates AG47 and AG59produce HIGH. Therefore, AND gates AG41 and AG55 produce HIGH at thetiming when a HIGH is produced from output f6 of mode determiningcircuit TIC, and AND gates AG43 and AG57 produce HIGH at the timing whena HIGH is produced from output f7 of mode determining circuit TIC. Thus,a signal "11" representing the simultaneous flash mode is applied toboth flash devices.

In the case of a mode other than sequence and simultaneous flash modes,that is a case when only one or no flash device is connected, AND gateAG47 produces LOW, and in turn, AND gate AG59 produces LOW. Thus, thesignal corresponding to bits b6 and b7 is "00", which is produced fromon both lines L2 and L12. In this case, if a flash device is connecteddirectly to the camera body or through the flash controller, that flashdevice, upon receipt of the signal "00", is informed that no other flashdevice is connected.

Next, the description is directed to the data transmission when HIGH isproduced from one of outputs f8-f15 of mode determining circuit TIC.When no power on signal is applied from line L12, D flip-flop DF19produces HIGH from its Q terminal along a line X3. During this periodwhen HIGH is produced from one of outputs f8-f15 of mode determiningcircuit TIC, OR gate OR46 produces HIGH and, therefore, AND gate AG13produces HIGH. Thus, NOR gate NO11 produces LOW, thereby disabling ANDgates AG1 and AG2. Accordingly, a high impedance will be given on lineL2. When the power on signals are applied to flash control circuit CNCthrough lines L2 and L12, respectively, AND gate AG47 produces HIGH,thereby enabling AND gate AG21. A HIGH produced from output f8 istransmitted through OR gate OR49, AND gate AG21, OR gates OR43 and OR41,AND gate AG2 and transistor BT55 to line L2. This signal corresponds tothe power on signal produced in response to bit b8, as described abovein connection with Table 1.

When output f9 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, a signalon line X6 produced from OR gate OR55, which is receiving signals from Qterminals of D flip-flops DF27 and DF17, is inverted and transmittedthrough AND gate AG33, OR gate OR49, and others to line L2. The signalon line X6 is HIGH when at least one flash device is of the typeapplicable to the system of the present invention. Accordingly, when atleast one flash device is of the type applicable to the system of thepresent invention, LOW representing the identification signal isproduced from line L2 in response to bit b9.

When output f10 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, a signalon line X0 produced from AND gate AG45 is inverted and transmittedthrough AND gate AG35. Since AND gate AG47 produces HIGH when the modeis sequence flash mode, LOW representing the sequence flash signal isproduced from line L2 in response to bit b10, as indicated in Table 1.

When output f11 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, a signalon line X2 from AND gate AG49 is transmitted through AND gate AG37 toline L2. AND gate AG49 receives signals from Q terminals of D flip-flopsDF13 and DF23 which are storing ready signals obtained from flashdevices previously in response to bit b2. Therefore, AND gate AG49produces HIGH when both flash devices are in the ready condition. ThisHIGH signal corresponds to the ready signal produced in response to bitb11, as indicated in Table 1.

When output f12 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, a signalon line X5 from OR gate OR53 is transmitted through AND gate AG39 toline L2. OR gate OR53 receives signals from Q terminals of D flip-flopsDF15 and DF25 which are storing FDC signals obtained from flash devicespreviously in response to bit b3. Therefore, when at least one of thetwo flash devices produces FDC signal in response to bit b3, OR gateOR53 produces HIGH, which is inverted to LOW and transmitted to line L2.This LOW signal corresponds to the FDC signal produced in response tobit b11, as shown in Table 1.

When outputs f13, f14 and f15 produce HIGH, line L2 is held LOW, asindicated in Table 1, for the future use.

When D flip-flop DF19 stores the power on signal applied from line L12to produce HIGH from its Q terminal on a line X1 and, at the same time,when D flip-flop DF11 stores no power on signal from line L2 to produceLOW from its Q terminal on a line X4, AND gate AG51 produces HIGH,thereby enabling AND gate AG19. When output f8 of mode determiningcircuit TIC produces HIGH, the HIGH signal from output f8 is transmittedthrough OR gate OR45, AND gate AG19, OR gates OR43 and OR41 to line L2.This HIGH signal corresponds to the power on signal produced in responseto bit b8 as shown in Table 1.

When output f9 produces HIGH, a HIGH stored in D flip-flop DF27previously in response to bit b5 and produced from its Q terminal online X8 is transmitted through AND gate AG25 and various elements toline L2. This HIGH signal corresponds to the identification signalproduced in response to bit b9 as shown in Table 1.

When output f10 produces HIGH, a signal produced from D flip-flop DF21from its Q terminal on line X4 is transmitted through AND gate AG27.This signal is LOW when the flash device connected to line L12 isarranged in the double-action twin flash mode, and HIGH when it is insingle flash mode. This signal corresponds to the sequence flash signalproduced on line L2 in response to bit b10, as shown in Table 1.

When output f11 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH, the readysignal stored in D flip-flop DF23 from line L12 previously in responseto bit b2 is produced from Q terminal of D flip-flop DF23 on line X9 andis transmitted through AND gate AG29. This signal corresponds to theready signal produced on line L2 in response to bit b11, as shown inTable 1.

When output f12 of mode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH the FDCsignal stored in D flip-flop DF25 from line L12 previously in responseto bit b3 is produced from Q terminal of D flip-flop DF25 on line X7 andis transmitted though AND gate AG31. This signal corresponds to the FDCsignal produced on line L2 in response to bit b12, as shown in Table 1.

When outputs f13, f14 and f15 produce HIGH, line L2 is held LOW, asindicated in Table 1, for the future use.

In the case of a CF mode, output CF of mode determining circuit TICproduces HIGH, thereby producing LOW from NOR gate NO11. Thus, AND gatesAG2 and AG1 are disabled. Accordingly, transistor BT53 changes itscondition between on and off dependingly on the signals applied to lineL2. Thus, the signals corresponding to those applied to line L2 areproduced from inverter IN27 on line r21. Upon generation of HIGH fromoutput CF, AND gate AG53 is enabled, thereby transmitting the signals online r21 through AND gate AG53, OR gate OR51, AND gates AG64 and AG65and transistor BT65 and BT67 to line 12. In this manner, the data fromthe camera body are transmitted through line L2 and flash controller toflash device connected to connector CN5 containing line L12.

In the case of an ES mode, terminal ES produces HIGH which is appliedthrough OR gate OR46 to AND gate AG13. If no power on signal is storedin D flip-flop DF19, its output Q terminal produces HIGH on line X3,thereby enabling AND gate AG13. Thus, the HIGH from OR gate OR46 istransmitted through AND gate AG13 and, accordingly, NOR gate NO11produces LOW. Thus, transistors BT55 and BT57 are turned off. If thepower on signal is stored in D flip-flop DF19, D flip-flop DF19 producesHIGH from its Q terminal, thereby enabling AND gate AG23. Thus, thesignals sent from the flash device through line L12 are transmittedthrough transistor BT69, inverter IN31 and line r22 to AND gate AG23 andfurther to line L2. Therefore, the integration control signal, which issynchronized with the light emission, is transmitted from flash devicethrough line L12, flash controller and line L2 to camera body.

In the case of a sequence flash mode, AND gate AG45 produces HIGH whichis transmitted through line X0 to AND gate AG11 (bottom of FIG. 18).Thus, AND gate AG11 is enabled. Then, when LOW is provided on line L1upon closure of X contact Sx, transistor BT59 turns on to provide HIGHon line r1. At this moment, since flip-flop FF23 is in the resetcondition, AND gate AG11 produces HIGH upon receipt of HIGH on line r1.When AND gate AG11 produces HIGH, counter CO11 is released from thereset condition, thereby start counting clock pulses φ3 from pulsegenerator PG. Then, after counting 6 milliseconds, that is after 6milliseconds from the closure of X contact Sx, a HIGH is produced online re, thereby setting flip-flop FF23. Then, if line X2 is carryingHIGH indicating that both flash devices are in the ready condition, ANDgate AG88 produces HIGH, thereby turning transistor BT71 on. Thus, LOWis produced on line L21. Accordingly, the flash device III shown in FIG.1a or 1b-2 emit light. More specifically, in the sequence flash mode,the flash devices I and II emit light sequentially in said order,providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure withthe two flash devices I and II. Immediately thereafter, the flash deviceIII emits light. As understood to those skilled in the art, the thirdflash device is provided, for example, to eliminate undesirable shadesformed, such as on back wall, by the flash devices I and II. Whenflip-flop FF23 is set, AND gate AG11 produces LOW, thereby resettingcounter CO11. Then, when X contact Sx opens to turn transistor BT59 off,line r1 carries LOW. Thus, one-shot circuit OS17 produces a pulse whichresets flip-flop FF23, thereby turning the circuit in the initialcondition.

In the case of a multi-flash mode, the flash devices do not produce anysignal during bits b8-b15, but instead, in response to bit b11, theflash controller produces on line L2 HIGH when both flash devices are inthe ready condition, and LOW when at least one of the two flash devicesis not ready. Then, when this signal is applied to the camera body, itis recognized as the ready signal, but in the flash devices, it isstored in flip-flop FF2 for use in determining whether to emit flashlight or not. Furthermore, when it is detected that both flash devicesare on the ready condition under the multi-flash mode, AND gate AG86produces HIGH, thereby enabling AND gate AG92. Then, upon receipt ofHIGH from output f11, AND gate AG92 produces HIGH which is appliedthrough OR gate OR72 and OR51 to line L12. This signal is furtherapplied to the flash devices for informing that the flash emission ispossible. On the contrary, if at least one flash device is not in theready condition, AND gate AG86 produces LOW, thereby producing LOW online L12. This signal is further applied to the flash devices forinforming that the flash emission is not possible.

If the mode is other than the multi-flash mode, inverter IN50 producesHIGH which is applied to AND gate AG90. In this case, when the flashdevice connected to the flash controller is in the ready condition, HIGHis produced on line X9 from D flip-flop DF23, thereby enabling AND gateAG90. Thus, upon receipt of HIGH from output f11, AND gate AG90 producesHIGH which is applied through OR gates OR72 and OR51 to line L12, andfurther to the flash device. Thus, the flash device connected to theflash controller is ready to emit light. On the contrary, if the flashdevice connected to the flash controller is not in the ready condition,D flip-flop DF23 stores LOW, thereby producing LOW on line X9. Thus,notwithstanding the HIGH provided from output f11, AND gate AG90produces LOW which is applied through OR gates OR72 and OR51 to line L12and further to the flash device. By this signal, the flash device cannot emit flash light.

When outputs FC, CF and ES produce LOW, that is when the mode is awaiting mode, NOR gate NO13 produces HIGH. Then, when no flash device isconnected to connector CN5 containing line L12, D flip-flop DF19produces HIGH on line X3, thereby producing HIGH from AND gate AG15.Thus, NOR gate NO11 produces LOW, thereby turning transistors BT55 andBT57 off. On the contrary, when a flash device is connected to connectorCN5, D flip-flop DF19 produces HIGH on line X1, thereby enabling ANDgate AG17. Then, when the ready signal stored in D flip-flop DF23 fromline L12 in response to bit b2 is HIGH, D flip-flop DF23 produces HIGHon line X9, thereby producing HIGH from AND gate AG17 during the waitingcondition. Therefore, when the flash device connected to connector CN5produces ready signal along line L12, the flash controller produces HIGHon line L2 during the waiting condition.

Referring to FIG. 19, a part of an emission amount control circuit FTC1for the double flash-head type which is different from that shown inFIG. 11 is shown. In the case of the primary flash of the sequence flashmode, output O13 produces HIGH, thereby producing HIGH from OR gatesOR14, OR16 and OR12. Thus, AND gates AN52, AN54 and AN62 are enabled.Thus, the signal from flip-flop FF17, which signal is maintained HIGHfor 2.5 milliseconds after the closure of X contact Sx, is transmittedthrough AND gates AN52 and AN54 and OR gates OR22 and OR24 to each oflight emitters FLO1 and FLO2. Thus, both light emitters FLO1 and FLO2emit light simultaneously.

If the mode is auto-adjustment mode, the stop emission signal producedfrom the terminal P3 is produced from both AND gates AN66 and AN68 andprovided to both light emitters FLO1 and FLO2, simultaneously. Thus,light emitters FLO1 and FLO2 stop emission simultaneously. Also, thesignal from flip-flop FF19, which signal is maintained HIGH for 2.5milliseconds after 3.5 milliseconds passed from the closure of X contactSx, is transmitted through AND gate AN62 and OR gate OR26 to AND gateAN70. During the presence of said signal, the stop emission signal istransmitted from terminal P3 through AND gate AN70 to light adjustmentsuccess indication circuit INF, for the indication of FDS signal.

If the mode is other than the auto-adjustment mode, the stop emissionsignal produced from one-shot circuit OS11 is transmitted through ANDgate AN64 and OR gate OR28 to light emitter FLO2, and no stop emissionsignal is applied to light emitter FLO1. Thus, in this case, the lightemitter FLO1 carries out the full emission.

In the case of the secondary flash of the sequence flash mode, outputO12 produces HIGH, thereby producing HIGH from OR gates OR18 and OR12.Thus, AND gates AN58, AN60 and AN62 are enabled. Accordingly, whenflip-flop FF19 is set, both light emitters emit light simultaneously,and stop the light emission simultaneously upon receipt of the stopemission signal provided from terminal P3. The stop emission signal isalso provided to light adjustment success indication circuit INF.

In the case of the simultaneous or single flash mode, terminal O10produces HIGH, thereby producing HIGH from OR gates OR14 and OR16. Thus,AND gates AN52, AN54 and AN56 are enabled. Accordingly, when flip-flopFF17 is set, both light emitters emit light simultaneously, and stop thelight emission simultaneously upon receipt of the stop emission signalprovided from terminal P3. The stop emission signal is also provided tolight adjustment success indication circuit INF.

In the case of the double-action twin flash mode, output O11 producesHIGH, thereby producing HIGH from OR gates OR16, OR18 and OR12. Thus,AND gates AN52, AN60 and AN62 are enabled. First, light emitter FLO2starts to emit light when flip-flop FF17 is set, and it stops emissionin response to the stop emission signal from terminal P3. Thereafter,light emitter FLO1 starts to emit light when flip-flop FF19 is set, andit stops emission in response to the stop emission signal. This stopemission signal is also applied to light adjustment success indicationcircuit INF.

According to the above modification, for the modes other than thedouble-action twin flash mode, both light emitters emit lightsimultaneously. Therefore, the available range of photographing distancemust be determined and displayed in accordance with the total maximumlight amount from light emitters FLO1 and FLO2.

Next, further modifications of the flash photographing system of thepresent invention will be described.

In the case of multi-flash photographing, a first flash device may beset to auto-adjustment mode, and a second flash device may be set tomanual adjustment mode. In such a case, the FDC display can be carriedout between the first flash device and the camera body, but no FDCdisplay is effected with respect to the second flash device. In order toavoid such an inconvenience, the following modification can be employed.

1. When the signal read in response to bits b6 and b7 is either "01","10" (representing sequence flash mode) or "11" (representingsimultaneous flash mode), the mode is forcibly set to auto-adjustmentmode even if it is set to manual adjustment mode. In other words, in thecase of multi-flash mode, the manual adjustment mode is not permitted.

2. In response to bit b4, preserved for the future use, the flash deviceproduces a signal representing either auto- or manual adjustment mode.This signal is read by the flash controller. While in the flashcontroller, it is determined whether or not the mode is multi-flashmode. If the flash controller detects that one flash device is in themanual adjustment mode, a prohibit signal is sent in response to bit b15to the flash device in the manual adjustment mode. Accordingly, theflash device in the manual adjustment mode is forcibly changed toauto-adjustment flash mode. In other words, in the case of multi-flashmode, it is prohibited to set two different modes (auto-adjustment modeand manual adjustment mode) at the same time, thus permitting both flashdevices to be either auto-adjustment mode or manual adjustment mode.

3. In the case of multi-flash mode, if the flash controller receives FDCsignals from both flash devices, the FDC signals are sent out inresponse to bit b15.

According to another modification, when the data from the flash deviceto camera body are all HIGH, indicating that the connected flash deviceis not applicable to the system of the present invention, the camerabody will not carry out a control operation of exposure and display forthe flash photographing, but a control operation of exposure and displayfor the ambient light. Thus, it is possible to exclude the flash deviceswhich are not designed for the system of the present invention.

Furthermore, when the signals from the flash device to camera body areall HIGH, the camera body, regardless of what mode it is set,automatically sets 1/60 second for the exposure time and F-stop 5.6 forthe aperture size, thereby ensuring the most widely used settingcondition for the flash photographing.

Instead of the manner described in the preferred embodiment, the signalexchange to determine whether or not to carry out the light emissionupon charge completion can be carried out in the following manner. Whenmode determining circuit TIC produces HIGH from its output ES after theshutter of camera body has been released, a timing signal for producingready signal and a timing signal for reading are formed in each flashdevices and flash controller. In accordance with the ready signal readin response to these timing signals, it is possible to determinedwhether or not to carry out the light emission.

In the preferred embodiment described above, since the operation ofpower-on-reset carried out upon turn on of the main power is known tothose skilled in the art, the detailed description therefor is omittedfor the sake of brevity.

Although the present invention has been fully described with referenceto several preferred embodiments, many modifications and variationsthereof will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the scopeof the present invention is therefore to be limited not by the detailsof the preferred embodiments described above, but only by the terms ofappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flash photographing system comprising:a cameraunit including mixing means for mixing a timing signal with a cameraside information signal to produce a composite timing signal; a flashunit including interpreting means for interpreting said camera sideinformation signal; first means for transmitting a first signal fromsaid camera unit to said flash unit; second means for transmitting asecond signal from said flash unit to said camera unit; and third meansfor transmitting said composite signal from said camera unit to saidflash unit.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first means includesa pair of first transmission terminals each provided at each of saidcamera and flash units, said pair of first transmission terminals beingelectrically connected.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said firstsignal is a flash start signal.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein saidsecond means includes a pair of second transmission terminals eachprovided at each of said camera and flash units, said pair of secondtransmission terminals being electrically connected.
 5. The system ofclaim 4 wherein said second signal is a flash unit side informationsignal containing a plurality of data produced serially at the flashunit.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said third means includes a pairof third transmission terminals each provided at each of said camera andflash units, said pair of third transmission terminals beingelectrically connected.
 7. A flash photographing system comprising:acamera unit including combining means for combining a timing signal witha camera side information signal to produce a composite timing signaland camera side information signal; a flash unit including interpretingmeans for interpreting said said camera side information signal; a firstmeans for transmitting a first signal from said camera unit to saidflash unit; second means for transmitting a second signal from saidflash unit to said camera unit; and third means for transmitting saidcombined timing signal and said camera side information signal from saidcamera unit to said flash unit.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein saidfirst means includes a pair of first transmission terminals eachprovided at each of said camera and flash units, said pair of firsttransmission terminals being electrically connected.
 9. The system ofclaim 8 wherein said first signal is a flash start signal.
 10. Thesystem of claim 7 wherein said second means includes a pair of secondtransmission terminals each provided at each of said camera and flashunits, said pair of second transmission terminals being electricallyconnected.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein said second signal is aflash unit side information signal containing a plurality of dataproduced serially at the flash unit.
 12. The system of claim 8 whereinsaid third means includes a pair of third transmission terminals eachprovided at each of said camera and flash units, said pair of thirdtransmission terminals being electrically connected.